Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Plaistow 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Plaistow | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,861 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.