Compare towns
Wells vs Exeter vs North Berwick 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Exeter | North Berwick | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,151Highest |
5,129Lowest |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Kennebunk 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17k 36% above U.S. |
| Wells and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kennebunk 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Exeter High School | Noble High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
12.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.