Compare towns
Eliot vs Thomaston vs Dover
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 expensive homes ($499k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,769Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Dover 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$271,700±$10kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$4,487Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 13 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.