What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Topsham	South Berwick
People
Population	9,706Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Highest about the ME average	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
	Topsham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham 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	$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
	South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
	South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%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	24 minLowest 4% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	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.