Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Lee 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Eliot | Durham | Lee | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
10,681 |
4,576Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Wells 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham 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. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 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 | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.