Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Wilmot 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Durham | Wilmot | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
15,080Highest |
1,487Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Wilmot and Eliot 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilmot 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wilmot 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.