Compare towns
Eliot vs Northbridge vs Kittery 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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Kittery | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,458Highest |
10,473 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above 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. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northbridge | Kittery Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Robert W Traip Academy | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.