Compare towns
York vs Ogunquit vs Bow 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
York has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
South Berwick has the most affordable 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 | York | Ogunquit | Bow | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,986Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,335 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,658 49% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 133 in ME | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | York Public Schools | — | Bow School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | York High School | — | Bow High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.