Compare towns
Wells vs Naples vs North Berwick
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%).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Naples | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
3,985Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
| Wells and Naples 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% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.9% ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick and Wells 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 |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick 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 |
$340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME |
$428,500±$33k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average |
| Naples 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 |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 12% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Naples and Wells 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Lake Region High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.