Compare towns
Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Jackson | Ogunquit | Wells | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,379 |
11,713Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Wells and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.