Compare towns

Eliot vs Hanover 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

Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.

MeasureEliotHanoverRockport
People
Population
7,146
8,479Highest
3,675Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
48.7±3.7
25% above U.S.
Eliot and Rockport 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%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rockport and Eliot 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%
17.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.2%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Rockport 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%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$86,979±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
$469,000±$50kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,194±$667Lowest
15% below U.S.
Hanover and Eliot 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.
$5,764
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±42.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
11 minLowest
57% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Eliot 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 #1 of 120 in NH #8 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 — Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28
High school in town None in town — Camden Hills Regional H S
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.6
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.