Compare towns
Wells vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
15,080Highest |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Oyster River High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.