The Town FilesSouth Berwick, Maine
Town in York County · population 7,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $428,300
- Household income
- $99,572
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 70 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 39.0
South Berwick is a town of 7,467 people in York County, Maine. The median home is worth $428,300, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better transit than 95% of Maine towns, more upscale than 86% of Maine towns, more walkable than 84% of Maine towns.
How South Berwick ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Berwick is worth $428,300, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $99,572, which is more affordable than 23% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,726 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Berwick | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $428,300 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,726 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $99,572 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in South Berwick
| People | South Berwick | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 90.0% |
Weather in South Berwick
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.1 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Berwick since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 3, 1976 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 29, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 2015.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2022 | Coastal Storm | DR-4647: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in York County
York County had 79,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,811 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in South Berwick itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in South Berwick
3 public schools with 1,360 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshwood High School | 9-12 | 669 | 13.1 |
| Central School | PK-3 | 387 | 13.8 |
| Marshwood Great Works School | 4-5 | 304 | 13.2 |
Towns near South Berwick
- South Berwick, ME2.3 mi · 3,825 people · home $396,700
- Rollinsford, NH4.6 mi · 2,597 people · home $398,100
- Eliot, ME5.9 mi · 6,717 people · home $498,900
- Berwick, ME6.5 mi · 7,950 people · home $369,100
- South Eliot, ME6.9 mi · 3,719 people · home $475,600
- Somersworth, NH7.0 mi · 11,855 people · home $318,400
- Dover, NH7.3 mi · 32,741 people · home $436,700
- Cape Neddick, ME7.6 mi · 3,037 people · home $684,400
South Berwick questions
Is South Berwick, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Berwick scores better for retirees than 38% of Maine towns and quieter than 24%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in South Berwick?
The median owner-occupied home in South Berwick is valued at $428,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,572, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,726 a month.
What is the weather like in South Berwick?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 70.1 inches of snow.
Does South Berwick get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Berwick since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 3, 1976. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)