Compare towns
Hollis vs South Eliot 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
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hollis | South Eliot | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,603 |
4,203Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Eliot and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.