Compare towns
Eliot vs Hudson vs Windham 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
South Berwick has the youngest population (median age 39).
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 | Hudson | Windham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
25,557Highest |
16,038 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hudson 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% |
16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and South Berwick 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% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson 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. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hudson School District | Windham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Windham High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.8 |
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.