Compare towns
Dorchester vs Eliot vs Groton
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).
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 | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,146Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2 31% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Groton 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% |
15.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Groton 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% |
29.4%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Groton 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% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Groton 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. |
$269,000±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Groton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 21% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Groton 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% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Groton 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 | — |
| High school 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.