Compare towns

Holderness vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Madbury

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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.

MeasureHoldernessOgunquitWellsMadbury
People
Population
1,917
1,379Lowest
11,713Highest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8
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
$107,863±$45k
34% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above U.S.
Madbury and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kLowest
9% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
—
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,574±$759
11% above U.S.
Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923
26% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME —
School district Holderness School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD Oyster River Coop 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
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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.