Compare towns
Eliot vs Topsham vs White River Junction 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).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Topsham | White River Junction | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
9,706 |
3,364Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and White River Junction 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.