Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs South Berwick vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Durham | Eliot | South Berwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146Lowest |
7,670 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.