Compare towns
Dorchester vs Eliot vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Dorchester | Eliot | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,146Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.