Compare towns
South Eliot vs Windham vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
16,038Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.8±3.9Highest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.