Compare towns
Eliot vs South Hampton vs Plaistow 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Plaistow | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
984Lowest |
7,861 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% 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%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Plaistow 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Plaistow 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Eliot 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
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.