Compare towns

Orford vs Newfields 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

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureOrfordNewfieldsWells
People
Population
1,295Lowest
2,023
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±3.3
26% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
Wells and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,571±$24k
15% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,900±$25kLowest
18% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,263±$686Lowest
11% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Newfields and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,836
87% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±10.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfields and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Wells 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
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Newfields School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town Rivendell Academy None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.