Compare towns
Wells vs Biddeford vs Ogunquit 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
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 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 | Wells | Biddeford | Ogunquit | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
22,498Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.6±4.7 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$101,875±$16k 36% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 64% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,500±$33k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
— | $1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average |
| Wells and Biddeford 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 |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Biddeford Public Schools | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Biddeford High School | — | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
14.1Highest |
— | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.