Compare towns
Eliot vs Francestown vs South Berwick vs Topsham
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Francestown | South Berwick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,398Lowest |
7,670 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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% |
21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Eliot 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. |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% 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 | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below 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 | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.