Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Palermo 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%).
Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).
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 | Palermo | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
1,473 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below 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% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest 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% |
31.7%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% |
3.2%±2 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 |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 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 |
$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
— | $1,235±$1kLowest 8% above 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 |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Eliot 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% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 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 |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 12 | 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.