Compare towns
Andover vs Eliot vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the youngest population (median age 46).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Andover | Eliot | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
7,146Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Andover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.