Compare towns
Dorset vs Eliot vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Dorset | Eliot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
7,146 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.