Compare towns
Eliot vs Seabrook vs South Hampton 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 people working from home (17.4%).
Seabrook has the most renters (31.8% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Seabrook | South Hampton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
8,427 |
984Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Seabrook 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% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Topsham 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% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Seabrook 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. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Eliot 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. |
$443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Seabrook 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Seabrook School District | South Hampton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.