Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Ogunquit vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

MeasureBethlehemOgunquitWells
People
Population
2,537
1,379Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$85,029±$18kLowest
5% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Lowest
17% below U.S.
—
$1,350±$297Highest
4% below U.S.
Wells and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Bethlehem 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 #34 of 120 in NH — #22 of 133 in ME
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town Profile Senior High School — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
—
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.