Compare towns
Bennington 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
South Berwick has the youngest population (median age 39).
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 | Bennington | Eliot | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
7,146 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below 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 | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Contoocook Valley 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.