Compare towns
Wells vs Lyme vs York
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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
York has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
1,710Lowest |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Wells and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| York and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and York 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% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Lyme 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±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
| Lyme and York 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
| Lyme and York 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 |
$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York 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. |
$4,658 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and York 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 | — | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lyme School District | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.