Compare towns
Eliot vs Northport vs Vinalhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the highest household income ($102k).
Northport has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Northport | Vinalhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,621 |
1,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
56.6±3.8 26% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Eliot and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Vinalhaven 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 36% above ME |
$73,523±$8k about the ME average |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$343,400±$36kLowest 16% above ME |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
| Eliot and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,088±$299 4% below ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,721Lowest 10% below ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
56.8%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Northport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northport Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.