Compare towns

Hancock vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Bennington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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.

MeasureHancockOgunquitWellsBennington
People
Population
1,791
1,379Lowest
11,713Highest
1,588
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±4.5
38% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
42.1±7.8Lowest
8% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.7Lowest
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+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.3Lowest
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
$95,208±$15k
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
$83,875±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$22k
31% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$267,300±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$650Lowest
15% below U.S.
—
$1,350±$297Highest
4% below U.S.
$1,292±$150
9% below U.S.
Wells and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$5,944
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.4%±55.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.2%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME —
School district Contoocook Valley School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD Contoocook Valley 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 Our Story 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.