Compare towns
Eliot vs Nelson vs Springfield vs Stoddard
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 expensive homes ($499k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
648Lowest |
1,122 |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard 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. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Springfield 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nelson School District | — | Stoddard School District |
| 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 | 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.