What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).

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	South Eliot	Boothbay
People
Population	4,203Highest	3,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8Lowest 24% above ME	56.8±3.9Highest 27% above ME
	Boothbay and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	11.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Eliot and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	35.4%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Boothbay and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	51.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME	$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME	$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME	$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Highest 46% above ME	$2,202Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4%	30.4%±31Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Eliot and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 16% below ME	13 minLowest 46% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
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.