Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Greenland 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Greenland has the most people working from home (32.2%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Eliot | Greenland | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
4,106Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.4±7.7 24% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$162,837±$11kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$662,800±$42kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,331±$363Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Greenland and Eliot 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. |
$7,420 138% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.3%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Greenland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #10 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Greenland School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.