Compare towns
Wells vs Amesbury vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
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 | Wells | Amesbury | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
17,403Highest |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Amesbury | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Amesbury High | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.9Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.