Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton Falls 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 Falls | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
2,328Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Wells 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hampton Falls 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Kennebunk 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.