Compare towns
South Eliot vs Topsham vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.
| Measure | South Eliot | Topsham | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
9,706Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 24% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
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%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 16% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and South 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.