Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton Beach vs Ogunquit vs South 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
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Hampton Beach | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
2,605 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Ogunquit 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and South Berwick 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and South Berwick 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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 | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.