Compare towns
Eliot vs Bedford 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).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Bedford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
23,746 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Bedford 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bedford 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Eliot 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. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bedford School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.