Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Saco vs Hooksett 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Ogunquit | Saco | Hooksett | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
20,819Highest |
15,057 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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 | 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.