Compare towns

Wells vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
York has the highest household income ($121k).

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.

MeasureWellsMeredithYork
People
Population
11,713
6,758Lowest
13,986Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
49.5±5.2Lowest
27% above U.S.
Meredith and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
York and Wells 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%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Meredith 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
9% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$121,250±$25kHighest
50% above U.S.
York 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±$23k
46% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
$636,400±$30kHighest
91% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,490±$336Highest
5% above U.S.
York 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.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,658
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
York and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
York and Meredith 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 #62 of 120 in NH #13 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District York Public Schools
High school in town Wells High School Inter-Lakes High School York High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
11.1
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.