Compare towns
Eliot vs Gorham vs Dover
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Gorham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
18,300 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Dover 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Gorham 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. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Dover 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.