Compare towns
Eliot vs South Eliot vs Newington 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%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | South Eliot | Newington | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,203 |
939Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Newington 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Newington 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. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot 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. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Newington 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% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Newington School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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.