Compare towns
Belfast vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 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.
| Measure | Belfast | Ogunquit | Wells | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 35% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
62±1.5 38% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Wells and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 37% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #84 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 71 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.