Compare towns
Wells vs Hudson 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%).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Hudson | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Lowest |
20,077Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% 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% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest 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% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hudson 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. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hudson 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. |
$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Hudson 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. |
$6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Hudson 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hudson | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Hudson High | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.2Lowest |
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.