Compare towns
South Berwick vs Topsham vs Durham
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Topsham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
9,706 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Topsham and South Berwick 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and South Berwick 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.