Compare towns
Eliot vs Nelson vs Plainville
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Nelson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
648Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainville 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Plainville 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Plainville 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nelson School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.