Compare towns
Eliot vs Newbury vs Wells vs Kittery
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Newbury | Wells | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,027Lowest |
11,713Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53.3±3.6 37% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newbury 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% |
17%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Newbury 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Newbury 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±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$463,400±$36kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% 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. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$5,695Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±24.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Newbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Newbury 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.