Compare towns
South Eliot vs Harpswell vs Newington
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 Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Harpswell has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 Eliot | Harpswell | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
5,046Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.