Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Hampton Falls | Wells | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,328Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% 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. |
49.5±7.3 27% 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
25%±3.6 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% |
54.5%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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% 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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.