Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Rye 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Rye | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
15,080Highest |
5,611 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rye and Durham 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.