Compare towns
Eliot vs Brookline vs Nottingham vs Topsham
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 highest household income ($171k).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Nottingham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
5,736 |
5,357Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Eliot 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. |
$2,068±$1k 46% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% 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% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brookline School District | Nottingham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.