Compare towns
Eliot vs Bedford vs Rockport
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).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
23,746Highest |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Rockport 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport 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. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below 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. |
$5,764 85% 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% |
53.4%±42.9Lowest 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bedford School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.