Compare towns
Eliot vs Rye vs Williston 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Rye | Williston | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
5,611Lowest |
10,144 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Rye and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rye and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Williston 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Williston 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.