Compare towns

North Berwick vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

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.

MeasureNorth BerwickOgunquitWellsSidney
People
Population
5,129
1,379Lowest
11,713Highest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+18%
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.6±4.7Lowest
7% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
53.6±3.8
20% above ME
43±5.5
4% below ME
Kids under 18
21.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
23.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±5
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
31%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
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+
29%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.3%
ME: 36.2%
33.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,875±$16k
36% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$88,024±$11k
18% above ME
$83,488±$10kLowest
12% above ME
Ogunquit and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,500±$33k
44% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$485,300±$23k
64% above ME
$336,200±$34kLowest
13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$116Lowest
about the ME average
—
$1,350±$297Highest
19% above ME
$1,340±$304
18% above ME
Wells and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,735
23% above ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$3,215
6% above ME
$2,474Lowest
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.2%±28.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1989
12 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
27% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
28 min
12% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
15%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #82 of 133 in ME — #22 of 133 in ME #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 — Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 18
High school in town Noble High School — Wells High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0Highest
—
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.