Compare towns
South Berwick vs Weare vs Gray
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).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Weare | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
9,170Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Weare and Gray 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% |
22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Weare 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. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Weare 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±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Weare 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. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Weare 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. |
$6,272Highest 101% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Gray 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | John Stark Regional High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.