Compare towns
Eliot vs Greenland vs Plainfield vs Topsham
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).
Greenland has the most people working from home (32.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Greenland | Plainfield | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,106 |
2,522Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.4±7.7 24% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Topsham 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% |
28.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenland 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Plainfield 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. |
$162,837±$11kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$662,800±$42kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,331±$363Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Greenland 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. |
$7,420 138% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.3%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Greenland and Eliot 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Greenland and Plainfield 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Greenland School District | Plainfield School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.