Compare towns
Wells vs Durham vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
15,080Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Durham and Ogunquit 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,466±$261Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Durham 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Oyster River High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.