Compare towns

Eliot vs Dover vs Rye

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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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.

MeasureEliotDoverRye
People
Population
7,146
33,364Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rye 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye 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±$62k
50% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
Eliot and Rye 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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District Rye School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
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.