Compare towns
South Berwick vs Stratham 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 affordable homes ($428k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Stratham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
7,754Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and South Berwick 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.