Compare towns
Plaistow vs Eliot vs South Berwick vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Plaistow | Eliot | South Berwick | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
7,146 |
7,670 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton 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 | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
— |
| 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.