Compare towns
Jackson vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Kennebunk has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Jackson | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897Lowest |
6,221 |
1,379 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 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+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest 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 | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Jackson School District | — | — | 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 History | 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.