Compare towns
Eliot vs Brentwood vs Durham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brentwood | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,641Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brentwood 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% |
21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Brentwood 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% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brentwood 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. |
$9,713 211% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brentwood 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brentwood and Durham 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 51 photos → |
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.