Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Mount Desert vs Wells

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureOgunquitMount DesertWells
People
Population
1,379Lowest
1,671
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+18%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
54.9±8.2
23% above ME
53.6±3.8Lowest
20% above ME
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Wells and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9Lowest
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+
63.5%
ME: 36.2%
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wells and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$92,813±$9k
24% above ME
$88,024±$11kLowest
18% above ME
Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$522,100±$66k
76% above ME
$485,300±$23kLowest
64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,341±$89Lowest
18% above ME
$1,350±$297Highest
19% above ME
Wells and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$3,512
16% above ME
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Wells and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
7% above ME
18 minLowest
27% below ME
28 minHighest
12% above ME
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME
School district — Mount Desert Public Schools Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town — None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
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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.