Compare towns
Bethel vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Bethel | Ogunquit | Wells | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,617 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,942 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 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 | $58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43 24% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835 7% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$1,988Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rumford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | — | Wells High School | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.