Compare towns

South Berwick vs Cornish 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

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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.

MeasureSouth BerwickCornishEliot
People
Population
7,670Highest
1,816Lowest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
Cornish and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% 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
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
8% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
17.6%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
South Berwick 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 #58 of 133 in ME — #19 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Cornish School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school 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

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.