Compare towns
Rockland vs Rockport vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Rockport has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Rockland | Rockport | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,035 |
3,675Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.4% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±6 10% above ME |
48.7±3.7Lowest 9% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Rockport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Rockport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$86,979±$16k 16% above ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$38kLowest 17% below ME |
$469,000±$50k 58% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,194±$667 5% above ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,059 34% above ME |
$5,764Highest 90% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Rockland and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 min 50% below ME |
11 minLowest 54% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Oceanside High School | Camden Hills Regional H S | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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.