Compare towns

Wells vs Hampton 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

Wells has the youngest population (median age 53.6).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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.

MeasureWellsHamptonOgunquitKennebunk
People
Population
11,713
16,426Highest
1,379Lowest
11,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Lowest
38% above U.S.
55.8±2.1
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
54.6±3.3
40% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Kennebunk 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%
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
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±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kLowest
46% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% 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.
—
$1,425±$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.
$4,473
43% 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%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Wells 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
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.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6
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 #31 of 120 in NH — #9 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District — RSU 21
High school in town Wells High School Winnacunnet High School — Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
10.1Lowest
—
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.