Compare towns
Eliot vs Dorchester vs Hanover vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dorchester | Hanover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
410Lowest |
11,685Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Dorchester 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester 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% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
— | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hanover High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.