Compare towns

Eliot vs Jaffrey vs Ogunquit 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).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureEliotJaffreyOgunquitWells
People
Population
7,146
5,448
1,379Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
42.9±3.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Jaffrey 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%
18.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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%
31.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%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%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Ogunquit 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.
$92,330±$18k
14% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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.
$245,500±$27kLowest
26% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$962±$202Lowest
32% 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.
$6,196Highest
99% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Jaffrey 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 133 in ME #87 of 120 in NH — #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town Conant Middle High School (H) — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
21.3Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.