Compare towns
Naples vs Wells vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Bethel has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Naples | Wells | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985 |
11,713Highest |
2,617Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8Lowest 11% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Wells and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13k 5% above ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Naples and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Wells High School | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.