Compare towns
Wells vs Boothbay vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Boothbay | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
3,102 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South 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% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Boothbay 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% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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±$11k 18% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Ogunquit and South 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 |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.0Highest |
| 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.