Compare towns
South Eliot vs Kittery vs Wells vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
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 | South Eliot | Kittery | Wells | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,203 |
10,473 |
11,713Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
46.8±2.3Lowest 4% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 49.9% ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$468,500±$31k 58% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$422,800±$102kLowest 43% above ME |
| Wells and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,716±$224 51% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 46% above ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 16% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Kittery Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.