Compare towns
Eliot vs Dorchester vs Kittery 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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Kittery | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
410Lowest |
10,473 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Eliot 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Wells 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% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
— | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,779 21% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Kittery Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
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.