Compare towns
Eliot vs Hudson vs Wells vs Kennebunk
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).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Hudson | Wells | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
20,077Highest |
11,713 |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hudson 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. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hudson 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. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hudson 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. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Kennebunk 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. |
$6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Wells 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% 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% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hudson | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Wells High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
11.4 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.