What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Berwick	Portsmouth
People
Population	7,670Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 133 in ME	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.