Compare towns
Eliot vs Nottingham vs Strafford
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Nottingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
5,357 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Strafford 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Nottingham 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. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nottingham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.