Compare towns
Wells vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Gardner | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
21,148Highest |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and Wells 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Wells and Gardner 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. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and North Berwick 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gardner | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Gardner High | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.0 |
| 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.