Compare towns
Eliot vs Mapleton vs Rye vs Union
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Rye | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,611 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rye 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rye School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.