Compare towns
South Berwick vs Wells vs Naples vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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%).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Wells | Naples | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
11,713Highest |
3,985Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
| Wells and Naples 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.9% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 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±$11k 18% above ME |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
$94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
| South Berwick and 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 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME |
$369,100±$19k 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,452±$430 27% above ME |
| Naples and South Berwick 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$4,436 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
| Naples 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Naples and 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Wells High School | Lake Region High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.