Compare towns
South Berwick vs Rye vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Rye | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
5,611Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rye and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Hampden 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.