Compare towns
Eliot vs Cornish vs South Berwick vs South Eliot
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Cornish | South Berwick | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,816Lowest |
7,670Highest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 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 | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 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 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Cornish School District | 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 | 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.