Compare towns
Dorchester vs Eliot vs South Hampton
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,146Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Hampton 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±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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 | South Hampton 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 |
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.