Compare towns
Harpswell vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the youngest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Harpswell | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,046 |
6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 38% above ME |
54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
52% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
$452,800±$17kLowest 53% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$4,771Highest 57% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | — | 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.