Compare towns
Eliot vs Dover vs Pelham
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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Dover | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pelham 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Eliot 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. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Dover 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.