Compare towns
Liberty vs Wells vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
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 | Liberty | Wells | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 969 |
11,713Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Wells and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Jackson 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.