Compare towns
Eliot vs Windham vs Bow 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Windham | Bow | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Windham School District | Bow School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bow High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.