Compare towns
Eliot vs Bow vs Durham 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Eliot | Bow | Durham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
8,335 |
15,080Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.