Compare towns
Denmark vs Ogunquit vs Waterford vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Waterford has the most renters (11.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Denmark | Ogunquit | Waterford | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
1,379 |
1,295 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
54.3±1.6 21% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±7.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Waterford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$66,071±$17k 12% below ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68kLowest 16% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$273,800±$36k 8% below ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
— | $870±$405Lowest 24% below ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
| Denmark and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,917Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | 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 Our Story | 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.