Compare towns
Eliot vs Dunbarton vs Auburn
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).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Dunbarton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
3,097Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Auburn 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Auburn 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dunbarton School District | Auburn 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.