Compare towns
Eliot vs Hartford vs Portsmouth
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 homeowners (79.8%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Hartford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,736 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hartford 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%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hartford 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.