Compare towns

Eliot vs Barnard 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureEliotBarnardDover
People
Population
7,146
1,211Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Eliot and Barnard 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%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Barnard 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%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
Eliot and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover 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.
$1,372±$80Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$6,038
94% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover 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%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard 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 — #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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 History 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.