Compare towns
Eliot vs Canterbury vs Bow
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% 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 | Canterbury | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,353Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Canterbury 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% |
17.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Canterbury 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% |
22.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Canterbury 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37k 60% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow 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. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Canterbury 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Shaker Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.