Compare towns
Eliot vs Northbridge vs Dover vs Topsham
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).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Northbridge | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,458 |
33,364Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Topsham 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Northbridge 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. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northbridge | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.