Compare towns
South Berwick vs South Hampton vs Wells
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).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | South Hampton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
984Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.