Compare towns
Webster vs Wells vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Webster | Wells | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
11,713Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Wells and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.