Compare towns
Eliot vs Wilmot vs Norwich 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 housing (typical home built 1979).
Wilmot has the most homeowners (83.4%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Wilmot | Norwich | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,487Lowest |
3,640 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Wilmot 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% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Norwich 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. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Wilmot 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. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Norwich 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. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Wilmot 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Wilmot 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Norwich 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.