Compare towns

Rockport vs Dover vs South 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

Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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.

MeasureRockportDoverSouth Eliot
People
Population
3,675Lowest
33,364Highest
4,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.7±3.7
25% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
55.5±8Highest
43% above U.S.
South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Rockport and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.2%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
32.8%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,979±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$99,299±$9kHighest
23% above U.S.
South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$469,000±$50k
41% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$475,600±$52kHighest
43% above U.S.
South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,194±$667Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$2,155±$292Highest
53% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,764
85% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,442Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±42.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±29.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
11 minLowest
57% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
17.1%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Rockport 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 #8 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 Dover School District —
High school in town Camden Hills Regional H S Dover Senior High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Lowest
12.7Highest
—
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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.