Compare towns
Lee vs South Berwick vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Lee | South Berwick | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,670Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South 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+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Lee and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

