Compare towns
Eliot vs Epping vs Topsham vs Naples
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Epping | Topsham | Naples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,430 |
9,706Highest |
3,985Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Topsham 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Naples 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Epping School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Mt Ararat High School | Lake Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.