Compare towns
Eliot vs Portsmouth vs South Berwick vs Newington
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Portsmouth | South Berwick | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
22,545Highest |
7,670 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.7±10.1 25% 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Newington 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. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
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.