Compare towns
Eliot vs Naples vs Nelson
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%).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Naples | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
3,985 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Naples and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Nelson 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. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples 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% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lake Region High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.