Compare towns
Hallowell vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the most renters (41.7% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Manchester has the youngest population (median age 46.9).
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 | Hallowell | Ogunquit | Wells | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Manchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$299,600±$40k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$993±$116 13% below ME |
| Wells and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 27% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,486 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 43% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
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.