Compare towns
Eliot vs Plainfield vs Kensington 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Plainfield | Kensington | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Kensington 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kensington 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.