Compare towns
Wells vs Gorham vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Gorham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
18,300Highest |
10,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Kittery 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 ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
| Gorham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26kLowest 55% above ME |
$468,500±$31k 58% above ME |
| Wells and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
| Kittery and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,518 49% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Gorham High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.