Compare towns
South Berwick vs Williston vs Berwick 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k 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 | Williston | Berwick | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
10,144Highest |
8,175 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | 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 | 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.