Compare towns
Eliot vs Hancock vs Kittery 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%).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Hancock | Kittery | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,791Lowest |
10,473Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery 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±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 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. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above 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 | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.