Compare towns
Eliot vs Springfield vs Nelson
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Springfield | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,122 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Eliot and Nelson 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Nelson School District |
| High school 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.