Compare towns
Eliot vs Atkinson vs Dover
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Atkinson | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,267 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Atkinson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Eliot 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% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Atkinson 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. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #32 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.