Compare towns
South Berwick vs Holderness 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).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Holderness | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
1,917Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Holderness 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±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above 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±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±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 | Holderness 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.