Compare towns
Eliot vs Northbridge vs Rockport
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).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,458Highest |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Rockport 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% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport and Northbridge 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. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,764Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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 | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northbridge | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.