Compare towns

Eliot vs Carroll vs Marlow vs Dover

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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Carroll has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).

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.

MeasureEliotCarrollMarlowDover
People
Population
7,146
659Lowest
855
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
62.4±4.8Highest
60% above U.S.
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Carroll and Marlow 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%
7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Marlow and Dover 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%
39.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Carroll and Marlow 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%
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Marlow 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.
$64,821±$26kLowest
20% below U.S.
$110,455±$12kHighest
37% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Marlow 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.
$261,500±$42kLowest
21% below U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,078±$241Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,154±$160
18% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover 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.
$3,356Lowest
8% above U.S.
$5,826
87% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28%±47.5
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover 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%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
4.6%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover 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 — — #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 — Marlow School District Dover School District
High school in town None in town — None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
12.7
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.