Compare towns
Eliot vs Newington vs South Berwick vs Kittery
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Newington | South Berwick | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
939Lowest |
7,670 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest 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±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Newington 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot 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. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Eliot 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.