Compare towns
South Berwick vs Eliot vs Keene vs Hermon
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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Eliot | Keene | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
7,146 |
22,939Highest |
6,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest 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. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hermon 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hermon 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest 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% |
4.8%±2.1 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 |
$96,629±$22k 20% 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$333,600±$32k 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. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202 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. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below 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%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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% |
6.8% 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% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer 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. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Keene High School | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.