Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureOgunquitSheldonWells
People
Population
1,379Lowest
2,267
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Wells 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
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%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
42% above U.S.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Wells 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.
$272,400±$61kLowest
18% below U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,286±$379Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,350±$297Highest
4% below U.S.
Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Ogunquit 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%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 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
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town — None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
On TownTapestry
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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.