Compare towns

Barrington vs Eliot 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

Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureBarringtonEliotSouth Berwick
People
Population
9,489Highest
7,146Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
23.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Barrington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kHighest
37% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Barrington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
32% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Lowest
22% above U.S.
Eliot and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Barrington and South Berwick 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 #65 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME #58 of 133 in ME
School district Barrington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.0
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.