Compare towns
Newton vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Newton | Ogunquit | Wells | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 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+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Newton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 160% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.