Compare towns
Eliot vs Topsham vs Wells vs South Eliot
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Topsham | Wells | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
9,706 |
11,713Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Wells 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot 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% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
| Eliot and South Eliot 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 |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% 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±$471 71% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.