Compare towns
Dorchester vs Eliot vs Carroll vs Marlow
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).
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Carroll | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,146Highest |
659 |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Eliot 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%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Carroll 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%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% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$261,500±$42k 21% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,078±$241Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 21% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Carroll 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% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Dorchester 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 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Marlow 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 | 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.