Compare towns
Eliot vs Sharon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Strafford 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. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Sharon 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.