Compare towns
Norway vs Ogunquit vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norway has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% 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 | Norway | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,228 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±4.9Lowest 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 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+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,342±$17kLowest 27% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,800±$29kLowest 27% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $770±$66Lowest 32% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,057Lowest 32% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Norway and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.