Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Rollinsford vs South Eliot
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Rollinsford | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
15,080Highest |
2,626Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rollinsford and Eliot 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Eliot 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.