Compare towns
Belfast vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Kennebunk
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 youngest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% 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 |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Belfast 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% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Lowest 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% |
51.2% 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% |
2.7%±1.4 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 |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% 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% |
37.1%±10.9 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% 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 |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 71 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | — | Wells High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.