Compare towns
South Berwick vs Surry 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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Surry | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
1,052Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Surry and Hampden 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% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Hampden 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. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Surry 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | — | 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.