Compare towns
Dover vs Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Dover | Eliot | Ogunquit | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
7,146Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Carlisle 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.