Compare towns
South Berwick vs South Eliot vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | South Eliot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
4,203Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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 ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
| South Berwick and South 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 44% above ME |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| South 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 52% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South 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 ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.