Compare towns
South Berwick vs Lebanon vs Hampden 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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Lebanon | Hampden | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
14,999Highest |
7,896 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hampden 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Hampden 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Hampden 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | RSU 22 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Lebanon High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
11.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| 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.