Compare towns
Eliot vs Dover vs Topsham vs Rockport
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 highest household income ($102k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Topsham | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
33,364Highest |
9,706 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% 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% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.