Compare towns
South Berwick 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
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick | Durham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
15,080Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.