Compare towns
Wells vs Durham vs York
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).
York has the most people working from home (26%).
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 | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Lowest |
15,080Highest |
13,986 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Wells and York 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| York 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% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and York 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% |
53.1% 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% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York 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. |
$4,658 49% 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% |
56.5%±10.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and York 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| York and Durham 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 | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Oyster River High School | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.