Compare towns
Eliot vs Orrington vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Orrington has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Orrington | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
3,853Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
49.5±3.3Lowest 10% above ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Orrington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orrington 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 |
$94,556±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
| Eliot and South 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 68% above ME |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 71% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot 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% |
6.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 9% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and South 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Orrington 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.