Compare towns

Arundel vs Naples vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arundel has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureArundelNaplesWells
People
Population
4,418
3,985Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
ME: +2.6%
+1.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+18%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.9±6.4Lowest
9% below ME
49.8±6.8
11% above ME
53.6±3.8Highest
20% above ME
Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.6%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
Arundel and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.9%±3.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.3%±5.4
ME: 22.4%
31%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
37.9%
ME: 36.2%
43.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wells and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,597±$17kHighest
36% above ME
$78,188±$13kLowest
5% above ME
$88,024±$11k
18% above ME
Arundel and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$421,300±$62k
42% above ME
$340,100±$48kLowest
15% above ME
$485,300±$23kHighest
64% above ME
Wells and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$495
41% above ME
$1,941±$625Highest
70% above ME
$1,350±$297Lowest
19% above ME
Naples and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,763Highest
24% above ME
$2,784Lowest
8% below ME
$3,215
6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.2%±22.7Lowest
ME: 48.4%
59.9%±40.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
Naples and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.5%
ME: 74.3%
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1988Lowest
11 yrs newer than ME
1989
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
38 minHighest
56% above ME
28 min
12% above ME
Work from home
7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26.7%±11.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
Naples 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 #7 of 133 in ME #118 of 133 in ME #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 21 RSU 61/MSAD 61 Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town Lake Region High School Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7Highest
11.4Lowest
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.