Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Ellsworth vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Ellsworth | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,657 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 51.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Wells 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 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above 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 | $487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below 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 | $4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Ellsworth High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 12.7Highest |
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.