Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Scarborough | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7Lowest 9% 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% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Scarborough 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% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest 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% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough and Wells 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±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit 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 |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$485,300±$23kLowest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 71% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
| Scarborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Scarborough 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% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest 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 min 9% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Scarborough Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Scarborough High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.