Compare towns
South Berwick vs Rye vs Newington
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 affordable homes ($428k median).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Rye | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
5,611 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Rye 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% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Newington 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±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46k 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and South Berwick 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 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 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.