What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Eliot has the most affordable 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scarborough	Eliot
People
Population	23,215Highest	7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±2.7Lowest 9% above ME	50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME
	Eliot and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2Highest ME: 18.1%	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Scarborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Eliot and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME	$101,522±$10kLowest 36% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME	$498,900±$62kLowest 68% above ME
	Scarborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME	$1,948±$471Lowest 71% above ME
	Scarborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 97% above ME	$4,549Lowest 50% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±13.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Eliot and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	4.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 21% below ME	23 minHighest 9% below ME
Work from home	24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Scarborough and Eliot 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	#35 of 133 in ME	#19 of 133 in ME
School district	Scarborough Public Schools	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Scarborough High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.