Compare towns
Wells vs Center Harbor vs Ogunquit
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 most kids (18% under 18).
Center Harbor has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Center Harbor | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
955Lowest |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Ogunquit 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. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor 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. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,667Highest 50% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.