Compare towns
Wells vs Casco vs Harrison vs Kennebunk
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%).
Casco has the youngest population (median age 52).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Kennebunk has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Casco | Harrison | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
3,696 |
2,513Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
52±3.3Lowest 16% above ME |
56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
| Harrison and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
26.3%±7.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
32.9% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Casco 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 |
$69,313±$19k 7% below ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$355,500±$58k 20% above ME |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 19% above ME |
$1,395±$184 22% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Casco 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 |
$3,085 about the ME average |
$2,731Lowest 10% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.7%±35.5 ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.6%±10 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Casco 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 | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.