Compare towns
Eliot vs White River Junction vs Newfields 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | White River Junction | Newfields | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
3,364 |
2,023Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Newfields 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newfields 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. |
$5,651 81% 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% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Newfields School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school 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.