Compare towns
Eliot vs Lee vs Thornton
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 renters (20.2% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Lee | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
4,576 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Eliot 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Thornton 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee 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. |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Thornton 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.