Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton vs Wells vs Dover
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 highest household income ($102k).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Wells | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,426 |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Dover 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton 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% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton 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±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% 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% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Dover 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.