Compare towns
South Berwick vs Eliot vs Keene
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Eliot | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
7,146Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.