Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Hillsborough
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
10,681Highest |
5,980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hillsborough and Eliot 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham 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. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,815 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.