Compare towns
Francestown vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Deering
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
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 | Francestown | Ogunquit | Wells | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,398 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
48.8±5.7Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±1.2 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+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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 | $104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$101,250±$16k 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$309,900±$27kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,306±$116Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,223 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±27.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Francestown 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 | Contoocook Valley 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.