Compare towns
Eliot vs Saco vs Hampton
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 homeowners (79.8%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Saco | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
20,819Highest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Hampton 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 26% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot 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. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Saco Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.