Compare towns
Wells vs Hadley vs Ogunquit 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
Hadley has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
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 | Hadley | Ogunquit | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
5,306 |
1,379Lowest |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Wells 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. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,466±$261Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hadley 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. |
$5,271Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hadley | — | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Hopkins Academy | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
7.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.