Compare towns

Eliot vs Henniker vs Plymouth 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 highest household income ($102k).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Wells has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureEliotHennikerPlymouthWells
People
Population
7,146
6,197Lowest
6,601
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
31.1±6.1
20% below U.S.
24.6±3.4Lowest
37% below 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%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
13.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Eliot 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%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
12%±2.7Lowest
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%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5
U.S.: 6.4%
33.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Plymouth and Henniker 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.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$77,027±$26kLowest
5% below U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
Eliot and Henniker 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.
$356,700±$49k
7% above U.S.
$292,400±$22kLowest
12% below U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% 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.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,108±$255
22% 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.
$8,877Highest
185% above U.S.
$6,288
102% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
33.8%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Henniker 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%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
56.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells and Eliot 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 #56 of 120 in NH #47 of 120 in NH #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Henniker School District Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town None in town Plymouth Regional High School Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8Highest
11.4Lowest
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.