Compare towns
Eliot vs Wells vs Durham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wells | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
11,713 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Eliot 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Durham 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.