Compare towns
Eliot vs Appleton vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Appleton | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Eliot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 71% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and South 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.