Compare towns
Bolton vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Bolton | Ogunquit | Wells | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,379 |
11,713Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 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+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 55% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.