Compare towns
Wells vs Naples vs South Berwick vs Gray
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%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | South Berwick | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
3,985Lowest |
7,670 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% 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% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Gray 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 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% ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray 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 |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| South Berwick and Gray 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 |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
| Naples and South Berwick 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 |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and Gray 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Lake Region High School | Marshwood High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
13.0Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.