Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Sanford 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 the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).
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 | Sanford | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
22,247Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8% ME: +2.6% |
+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.1±2.8Lowest 6% 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% |
19.3%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sanford 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% |
20.8%±2.3Lowest 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% |
24.8%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% |
3.5%±0.8 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 | $107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$72,524±$7kLowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$280,200±$10kLowest 6% below ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— | $1,152±$72Lowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$3,708 22% 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% |
45.5%±7.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sanford 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% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±2Lowest 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 | — | #100 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Sanford Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Sanford High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 17.7Highest |
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.