Compare towns
Eliot vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Dedham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
25,237Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Dedham 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% |
55%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%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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 | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Eliot 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. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dedham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.