Compare towns

Wells vs Kennebunkport vs Ogunquit vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Kennebunkport has the highest household income ($121k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureWellsKennebunkportOgunquitEliot
People
Population
11,713Highest
1,276Lowest
1,379
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
ME: +2.6%
+2.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.6±3.8
20% above ME
63.1±4.2Highest
41% above ME
62.8±4.8
40% above ME
50.8±5.9Lowest
13% above ME
Kennebunkport and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.2%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
45.3%±7.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1
ME: 22.4%
27.8%±6.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Kennebunkport and Ogunquit 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
ME: 36.2%
54.6%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.6%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
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
18% above ME
$121,189±$24kHighest
62% above ME
$114,259±$56k
53% above ME
$101,522±$10k
36% above ME
Kennebunkport and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kLowest
64% above ME
$814,400±$148k
175% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$498,900±$62k
68% above ME
Ogunquit and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
19% above ME
— —
$1,948±$471Highest
71% above ME
Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
$4,255
40% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$4,549Highest
50% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
25%±45.9
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
55.1%±20.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
11.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
4.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
90.3%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
12% above ME
44 minHighest
79% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
23 minLowest
9% below ME
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
41.4%±14.4
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Kennebunkport 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 #42 of 133 in ME — #19 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD — — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Wells High School — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
— — —
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ME 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.