Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Nelson | Surry | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,052 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Surry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.