Compare towns
Hallowell vs Sutton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k 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 | Hallowell | Sutton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592 |
2,239Lowest |
2,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,373±$90 about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 24% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hallowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hallowell and Sutton 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 | — | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | Kearsarge Regional School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.