Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton vs Rye 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).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Rye | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 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.