Compare towns
Wells vs Harpswell vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Wells | Harpswell | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
5,046Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
| Eliot and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 64% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
| Harpswell and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | 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.