Compare towns
Wells vs Hancock vs North 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hancock has the most renters (14.4% rent).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Hancock | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,791Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick 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% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hancock 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and North Berwick 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.