Compare towns
Eliot vs Newfields vs Keene 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
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Newfields | Keene | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,023Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Keene 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Wells 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newfields School District | Keene School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
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.