Compare towns
Eliot vs Chester 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 the most people working from home (17.4%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Chester | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
5,300 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% 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% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Eliot 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. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Chester and 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. |
— | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Chester 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.