Compare towns
Eliot vs South Hampton vs Lyme 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
Eliot has the most renters (20.2% rent).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | South Hampton | Lyme | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Lyme 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lyme 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Wells 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 | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | 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.