Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Calais vs Middlesex 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
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Calais | Middlesex | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Middlesex 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 | RSU 21 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.