Compare towns
Newington vs Franconia vs South Hampton vs 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
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
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 | Newington | Franconia | South Hampton | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
1,060 |
984 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% 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 | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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 |
| School district | Newington School District | Lafayette Regional School District | South Hampton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.