Compare towns

Wells vs Berwick vs North Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
North Berwick has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

MeasureWellsBerwickNorth Berwick
People
Population
11,713Highest
8,175
5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+9.7%
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
20% above ME
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
41.6±4.7
7% below ME
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.7%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
21.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Berwick and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.9%±5
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%
ME: 36.2%
29%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.7%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
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
18% above ME
$94,771±$24k
27% above ME
$101,875±$16kHighest
36% above ME
North Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kHighest
64% above ME
$369,100±$19kLowest
24% above ME
$428,500±$33k
44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$1,452±$430Highest
27% above ME
$1,105±$116Lowest
about the ME average
Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
$4,436Highest
46% above ME
$3,735
23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
50.6%±46
ME: 48.4%
66.2%±28.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
North Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
4.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
87.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
12% above ME
30 min
20% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
20.2%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
15%±5.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Berwick 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 #22 of 133 in ME #101 of 133 in ME #82 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Wells High School None in town Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
—
12.0Highest
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.