Compare towns
Eliot vs Amesbury vs Rockport 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Eliot | Amesbury | Rockport | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
17,403Highest |
3,675Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA | #8 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Amesbury | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | Camden Hills Regional H S | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.