Compare towns
South Berwick vs Seabrook vs Hampstead
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Seabrook | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
8,427 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampstead 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% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Seabrook 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. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Seabrook 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Seabrook School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
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| 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.