Compare towns
Eliot vs South Berwick vs Wells vs Topsham
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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | South Berwick | Wells | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,670 |
11,713Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| 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%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham 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±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| 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 71% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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 |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Wells High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.