Compare towns
Eliot vs Dublin vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dublin has the highest household income ($105k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Dublin | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,688 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Dublin 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% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dublin and Eliot 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. |
$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Dublin 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 50% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Dublin 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. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dublin 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. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Nelson 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.