Compare towns
Chester vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Chester | Ogunquit | Wells | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sandown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25k 67% above U.S. |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 171% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Sandown 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Timberlane Regional School District |
| 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.