Compare towns
Eliot vs White River Junction vs Keene 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 highest household income ($102k).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | White River Junction | Keene | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
3,364Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 38% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| 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 46% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Keene 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Keene School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Keene High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.