Compare towns
Eliot vs Amesbury vs Hampton Falls 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
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Eliot | Amesbury | Hampton Falls | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
17,403Highest |
2,328Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
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 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 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+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Amesbury | Hampton Falls School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.