Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in South Berwick, Maine
A $341,000 home here costs
$2,866per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $123,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,859. The real number is $1,007 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare York County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for South Berwick from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,441 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The York County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
South Berwick against York County and Maine
| Measure | South Berwick | York County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $340,800 | $357,200 |
| Median property tax | $4,522 | $3,691 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.327% | 1.033% |
| Median gross rent | $1,390 | $1,239 |
| Population | 3,441 | 214,731 |
The weather behind that power bill
South Berwick sits in York County, which averages a high of 81.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 9.9°F in its coldest, with 51.31" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 351 cooling and 7,430 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for York County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in York County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are South Berwick averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works South Berwick every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in South Berwick I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in South Berwick?
A $341,000 home in South Berwick, Maine costs approximately $2,866 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,859 principal and interest, $377 property tax, $101 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $284 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in South Berwick?
South Berwick has an effective property tax rate of 1.327%, based on a median home value of $340,800 and median real estate taxes of $4,522. That is higher than the York County average of 1.033%.
What is the average home price in South Berwick?
The median owner-occupied home value in South Berwick, Maine is $340,800, against $357,200 across York County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Berwick?
Median gross rent in South Berwick is $1,390 a month, against $2,866 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in South Berwick?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Berwick, Maine at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $123,000 a year. That covers the full $2,866 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Berwick, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Maine.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.