Compare towns
Dover vs Eliot vs Gorham vs Gray
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Dover | Eliot | Gorham | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,146Lowest |
18,300 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.