Compare towns

Eliot vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.

MeasureEliotHooksettSouth Berwick
People
Population
7,146Lowest
15,057Highest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Hooksett 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.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% 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.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% 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
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
South Berwick and Eliot 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 #30 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hooksett School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.