Compare towns
Topsham vs South Berwick vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Topsham | South Berwick | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
7,670 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest 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+ | 50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% 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 | $360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% 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 | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest 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 | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Marshwood High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| 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.