Compare towns
South Eliot vs Wells vs Topsham
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203Lowest |
11,713Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Wells 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 |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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 |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.