Compare towns
Wilder vs South Berwick vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hartford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Wilder | South Berwick | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
7,670 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Marshwood High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.