Compare towns
Newington vs Orford vs Franconia 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
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Newington | Orford | Franconia | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
1,295 |
1,060 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Franconia 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 |
| School district | Newington School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lafayette Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.