Compare towns
Eliot vs Brookline 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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Brookline | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
5,736Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brookline 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 | None yet | 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.