Compare towns
Wells vs Lyman vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Lyman | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
4,612Lowest |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
54.3±7.2Highest 21% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$95,169±$21kHighest 27% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$4,771Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.