Compare towns
Eliot vs Lee vs Plymouth 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lee | Plymouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,576Lowest |
6,601 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee 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. |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 22% 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.