Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Paris 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 most kids (18.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Paris has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Paris | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
5,317 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 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+ | 30.9%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 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+ | 52% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$75,137±$20kLowest about the ME average |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
— | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 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 | $4,771Highest 57% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,649Lowest 13% below ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 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 | — | #114 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | 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.