Compare towns
South Eliot vs Wells vs South Berwick
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 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 | South Eliot | Wells | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| South Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest 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+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±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 | $99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% 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 |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 46% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.