Compare towns
Wells vs Douglas vs North Berwick
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
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 | Douglas | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
9,207 |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and North Berwick 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Wells and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Douglas | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Douglas High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
7.2Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.