Compare towns
Wells vs Naples vs York vs Kennebunk
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 affordable homes ($340k median).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | York | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
3,985Lowest |
13,986Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
49.5±5.2Lowest 10% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| York 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%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Naples 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 |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
| York and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$340,100±$48kLowest 15% above ME |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,490±$336 31% above ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
| Naples and York 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 |
$4,658 53% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and York 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Naples 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | York Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Lake Region High School | York High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.