Compare towns
Newington vs South Eliot vs Durham 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 Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 Eliot | Durham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
4,203 |
15,080Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Newington 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Newington and Durham 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. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Newington and South 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. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Newington School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.