Compare towns

Boothbay vs Ogunquit vs Topsham vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).

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.

MeasureBoothbayOgunquitTopshamWells
People
Population
3,102
1,379Lowest
9,706
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%
ME: +2.6%
+18%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
56.8±3.9
27% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
44.7±4Lowest
about the ME average
53.6±3.8
20% above ME
Ogunquit and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±3.8
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.9%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.4%±7.8
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
31%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.9%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
50%
ME: 36.2%
43.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
Boothbay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,320±$17kLowest
19% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$91,028±$10k
22% above ME
$88,024±$11k
18% above ME
Ogunquit and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$342,100±$43kLowest
15% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$360,800±$20k
22% above ME
$485,300±$23k
64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$121Lowest
about the ME average
—
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,202Lowest
27% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$4,259
40% above ME
$3,215
6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±31
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±12.9
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.9%
ME: 74.3%
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
13 minLowest
46% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
24 min
4% below ME
28 minHighest
12% above ME
Work from home
5.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.2%±4.3
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #66 of 133 in ME #22 of 133 in ME
School district — — RSU 75/MSAD 75 Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town — — Mt Ararat High School Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2Highest
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.