Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Thomaston 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 renters (26.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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.

MeasureKennebunkOgunquitThomastonWells
People
Population
6,221
1,379Lowest
2,769
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+18%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.3±7.2
21% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
58.1±6.6
30% above ME
53.6±3.8Lowest
20% above ME
Ogunquit and Thomaston 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%
19.2%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
Thomaston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±4.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
35.5%±8.6
ME: 22.4%
31%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Thomaston 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%
30.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
1.6%±1.4Lowest
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
$56,435±$13kLowest
24% below ME
$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
$271,700±$10kLowest
8% below ME
$485,300±$23k
64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,466±$261Highest
29% above ME
—
$1,262±$343Lowest
11% above ME
$1,350±$297
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
$4,487
48% 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%
60.5%±23.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
Thomaston 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%
6.6%
ME: 10.7%
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
73.9%
ME: 74.3%
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1951Lowest
26 yrs older than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
8% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
14 minLowest
45% below ME
28 minHighest
12% above ME
Work from home
36.6%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.4%±3.9Lowest
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 — #99 of 133 in ME #22 of 133 in ME
School district — — RSU 13 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.