Compare towns
Arundel vs Wells vs Lyman
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k 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 | Arundel | Wells | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% 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±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
| Arundel and Wells 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Lyman 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.