Compare towns

Windham vs Eliot vs South Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamEliotSouth Berwick
People
Population
16,038Highest
7,146Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Windham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Lowest
22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
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
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME #58 of 133 in ME
School district Windham School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Windham High School None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
13.0Highest
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.