What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Berwick	Union
People
Population	7,670Highest	2,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME	41.6±5.3Highest 7% below ME
	Union 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 ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Union and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	South Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME	$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME
	South Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME	$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME	$1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 63% above ME	$3,276Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick and Union 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	—
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Marshwood High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.