Compare towns
Wells vs Lee vs Ogunquit vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Lee | Ogunquit | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
4,576 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Topsham 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Topsham 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Wells 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Topsham 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.