Compare towns
Orrington vs Wells vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orrington has the highest household income ($95k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Orrington | Wells | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853 |
11,713Highest |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
| Wells and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
| Orrington and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135 about the ME average |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Wells and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.