Compare towns
Eliot vs Canterbury vs South Eliot
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%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,353Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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% |
17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233 51% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Canterbury 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. |
$7,421Highest 138% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Eliot 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Shaker Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.

