Compare towns
North Berwick vs Rye 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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.
| Measure | North Berwick | Rye | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,129Lowest |
5,611 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Rye and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Rye 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.