Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Shirley vs Upton 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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Shirley | Upton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
6,976 |
8,189 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley 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. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.