Compare towns
North Haven vs Wells vs Vinalhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Haven has the shortest commute (9 min average).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
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 Haven | Wells | Vinalhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 480Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±6.6Lowest 11% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| North Haven and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.5%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$22k 17% above ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
| Wells and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,200±$46k 48% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$428,400±$44kLowest 44% above ME |
| Wells and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$318Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,017±$924 11% below ME |
| Wells and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,824Highest 26% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±67.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 9 minLowest 65% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.