Compare towns
Sidney vs Wells vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hollis has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Sidney | Wells | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
| Hollis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
| Hollis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hollis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 12% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Hollis 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| 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 History | 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.