Compare towns
Chatham vs Jackson 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
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
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 | Chatham | Jackson | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430Lowest |
897 |
1,379 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 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+ | 38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson 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 | — | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Jackson School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.