Compare towns
Waterbury vs South Berwick vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Waterbury | South Berwick | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
7,670Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| 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.