Compare towns
Berwick vs Hampden vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | Hampden | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,896Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 24% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
| Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 22 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
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.