What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 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	Standish	South Berwick
People
Population	10,662Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.5±2.8Highest 10% below ME	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
	Standish and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Highest ME: 22.4%
	South Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME	$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME
	Standish and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest about the ME average	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Standish and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 20% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick and Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.0Highest
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.