Compare towns
South Eliot vs Wells vs St. George
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%).
St. George has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Wells | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
11,713Highest |
2,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 24% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
58.3±9.8Highest 30% above ME |
| St. George and South Eliot 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% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.1%±5.1Lowest 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%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| St. George and South Eliot 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$89,155±$10k 19% above ME |
| South Eliot and St. George 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 |
$356,300±$79kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,465±$293 29% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,359 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±35.8Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.1%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| St. George 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #46 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | St George Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.