Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Wells vs South Berwick
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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Exeter | Wells | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,713 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest 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+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Eliot 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Wells High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.