Compare towns
Eliot vs Henniker vs Wells 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 the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Wells has the most homeowners (90.1%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Wells | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,197Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Wells 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% 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 | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Henniker School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
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.