Compare towns
Eliot vs Dedham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dedham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,656Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Dedham 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 36% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
| Dedham 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 68% above ME |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$3,942Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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 |
ME 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.