Compare towns
Wells vs Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Ogunquit
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 the most affordable homes ($485k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lyme | Hampton Falls | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,710 |
2,328 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Falls 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. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.