Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs Gray 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 has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,426Highest |
8,429Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Gray 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Gray 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Winnacunnet High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.