Compare towns
Eliot vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Topsham 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.