Compare towns
Sullivan vs Surry vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Sullivan | Surry | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
1,052 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry 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 | $106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Surry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Surry 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 |
| School district | — | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.