What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	South Berwick	Wells
People
Population	7,670Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Wells 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%	31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	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±$13kHighest 33% above ME	$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME
	South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME	$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME	$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME
	South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 63% above ME	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	28 minHighest 12% above ME
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	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	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.