Compare towns
Eliot vs Plaistow vs Weare 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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Plaistow | Weare | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,861 |
9,170 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Weare 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Weare 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% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Weare 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Weare and Plaistow 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. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.