Compare towns
South Berwick vs Wells vs Rollinsford
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
11,713Highest |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26k 11% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Rollinsford and South Berwick 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,851Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford and Wells 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 | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.