Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | South Berwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below 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%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
41.8%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% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and South Berwick 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 |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261 29% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 57% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | Marshwood High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.