Compare towns
Buxton vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Buxton | Ogunquit | Wells | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 20% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Buxton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.