Compare towns
Barnard vs Wells vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Barnard | Wells | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Wells and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.