Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Wells vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering OgunquitYork
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($345k 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.
| Measure | Ogunquit | Wells | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,617 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Bethel 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% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below 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 | $875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$344,900±$37kLowest 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,835Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Bethel 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.