City profile · Maine · Census ACS 2023

South Berwick, ME

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for South Berwick - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,441
Residents
$77,493
Median income
$340,800
Median home
$1,716
Median rent (state)

South Berwick - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, South Berwick lands in the 59th percentile for household income and the 87th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

59th
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
69th
percentile, median rent
87th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: South Berwick, ME

South Berwick is a small town in Maine, home to 3,441 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $77,493 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Home values in South Berwick run a median of $340,800, and the median resident age is 45.8 years. Educational attainment runs 40.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

South Berwick reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 446.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Maine tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Maine at 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,716 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Maine's average monthly utility costs around $273 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 81.5 out of 100 (High).

Population

3,441 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maine

Median Household Income

$77,493 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maine average

How does South Berwick compare to other US cities?

Where South Berwick sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 69% pricier than other cities
Safety 87% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Maine and the picture shifts: South Berwick ranks #10 of 73 Maine cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares South Berwick against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maine only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maine-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places South Berwick toward the top of Maine's cities

Among the 154 Maine cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, South Berwick ranks #22 - the 75th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Berwick only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#33 of 145
77th percentile in Maine
Median Gross Rent
#22 of 154
75th percentile in Maine
Median Home Value
#38 of 151
75th percentile in Maine
Poverty Rate
#110 of 154
28th percentile in Maine
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#45 of 154
71st percentile in Maine

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maine only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

59thIncome percentile
87thSafety percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income · 87th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

South Berwick's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

South Berwick's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 59 Avg. percentile National median
South Berwick's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How South Berwick's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$340,800 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. South Berwick $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - South Berwick, ME South Berwick, ME's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Berwick, ME-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution South Berwick, ME median $77,493/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
South Berwick, ME's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for South Berwick, ME. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,441
Median Income
$77,493
Median Home Value
$340,800
Median Age
45.8
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
66.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
446.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
25.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
420.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.1%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
15.8%
Other
3.7%

Based on 1,835 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maine - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$273
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maine state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maine state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county South Berwick sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,716/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maine

Lisbon
3,453 people
Lake Arrowhead
3,273 people
Camden
3,665 people
Norway
3,145 people
Bucksport
3,140 people
Calais
3,087 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Berwick's 3,441 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, CA
3,441 people
Alma, GA
3,441 people
Shannondale, WV
3,441 people
Evergreen, AL
3,442 people
Westville, IL
3,442 people
Moreland Hills, OH
3,442 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Berwick's $77,493 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Garner, NC
$77,496 median income
Thorsby, AL
$77,500 median income
Noatak, AK
$77,500 median income
Scotia, CA
$77,500 median income
Salmon Brook, CT
$77,500 median income
Minier, IL
$77,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Berwick, ME Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition South Berwick, ME - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.0% White 92.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 4.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How South Berwick compares to nearby Maine cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
South Berwick (this city) 3,441 $77,493
Lisbon 3,453 $72,066
Lake Arrowhead 3,273 $84,221
Camden 3,665 $80,897
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ME FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Berwick, ME?

What is the population of South Berwick, ME? +

South Berwick, ME has a population of 3,441 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Berwick, ME? +

In South Berwick, the typical household earns $77,493 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Berwick? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for South Berwick; the closest available measure is the Maine state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maine vary by metro area.

Is South Berwick, ME safe? +

South Berwick has a total crime rate of 446.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in South Berwick, ME? +

Homes in South Berwick carry a median value of $340,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.