Compare towns

Wells vs Williston vs Ogunquit vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureWellsWillistonOgunquitEliot
People
Population
11,713Highest
10,144
1,379Lowest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Wells 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
9% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
—
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 133 in ME #11 of 70 in VT — #19 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 — 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
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U.S. 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.