Compare towns
Newington vs South Berwick vs Lyme 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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | South Berwick | Lyme | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
7,670Highest |
1,710 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% 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 | 15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 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+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest 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 | $145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.