Compare towns
Wilmot vs Eliot vs Durham vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wilmot | Eliot | Durham | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,487 |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±2.4 36% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilmot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Durham and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,600±$43kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,651 113% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wilmot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.