Compare towns
Eliot vs Belfast vs Topsham
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 expensive homes ($499k median).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Belfast | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,986Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Eliot 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% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast 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% |
42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham 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 |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 |
$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 |
$4,145Lowest 37% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Belfast 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 71 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.