Compare towns

Eliot vs Wells vs Rockport

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 highest household income ($102k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 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.

MeasureEliotWellsRockport
People
Population
7,146
11,713Highest
3,675Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+18%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+9.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50.8±5.9
13% above ME
53.6±3.8Highest
20% above ME
48.7±3.7Lowest
9% above ME
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%
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Rockport 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%
31%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.2%±4.3Lowest
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%
43.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
51.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
5%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Rockport 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
$88,024±$11k
18% above ME
$86,979±$16kLowest
16% above ME
Eliot and Wells 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
$485,300±$23k
64% above ME
$469,000±$50kLowest
58% 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
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$1,194±$667Lowest
5% above ME
Eliot and Wells 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
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
$5,764Highest
90% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.4%±42.9
ME: 48.4%
Eliot and Rockport 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%
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
9% below ME
28 minHighest
12% above ME
11 minLowest
54% below ME
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.1%±5.9Lowest
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 #22 of 133 in ME #8 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Wells-Ogunquit CSD Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28
High school in town None in town Wells High School Camden Hills Regional H S
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.