Compare towns

North Berwick vs Plainfield vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureNorth BerwickPlainfieldWells
People
Population
5,129
2,522Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.7
7% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and North Berwick 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
26% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Plainfield 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±$33kLowest
29% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
Wells and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$116Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Plainfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,735
20% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
15%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Wells 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 #82 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Plainfield School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town Noble High School None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.