Compare towns
Nottingham 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
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Nottingham | South Eliot | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
4,203Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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 | 23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1k 46% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Eliot and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nottingham School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.