Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Lyman vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k median).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 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 | Ogunquit | Lyman | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
4,612 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
| 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 68% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
— | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #40 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.