Compare towns
Wells vs Gorham vs Old Orchard Beach vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Old Orchard Beach has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
18,300Highest |
9,244 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
58±3.5 29% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
— |
| Gorham and Wells 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 |
$3,426 13% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 23 | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Gorham High School | Old Orchard Beach High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.