Compare towns
Eliot vs Wells vs South Berwick vs Naples
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | South Berwick | Naples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,713Highest |
7,670 |
3,985Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
49.8±6.8 11% 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.3%±5.4 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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 |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$340,100±$48kLowest 15% 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±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,941±$625 70% above ME |
| Eliot and Naples 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Naples 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Marshwood High School | Lake Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.