Compare towns
Harrison vs Wells vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Whitefield has the youngest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Harrison | Wells | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
11,713Highest |
2,157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
| Harrison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Wells and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731 10% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Wells 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 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 12 |
| 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 |
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.