Compare towns

Center Harbor 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

Center Harbor has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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.

MeasureCenter HarborOgunquitWells
People
Population
955Lowest
1,379
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±4.8
55% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Lowest
38% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.9%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
39.5%±13.2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.1%
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%±1.1Lowest
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
$104,313±$16k
29% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$463,800±$74kLowest
39% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,667Highest
50% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±59.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
8.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME
School district — — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town — — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
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.