Compare towns

Wells vs Newburgh vs Ogunquit vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newburgh has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWellsNewburghOgunquitTopsham
People
Population
11,713Highest
1,475
1,379Lowest
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.6±3.8
20% above ME
45.8±5.7
about the ME average
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
44.7±4Lowest
about the ME average
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
18.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.9%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Topsham and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit 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%
ME: 36.2%
29.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
50%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Topsham 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
$76,750±$10kLowest
about the ME average
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$91,028±$10k
22% above ME
Ogunquit and Topsham 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
$244,600±$20kLowest
18% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$360,800±$20k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$950±$219Lowest
17% below ME
—
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
Topsham 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
$2,748Lowest
9% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$4,259
40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±13.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±12.9
ME: 48.4%
Newburgh and Wells 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%
11.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
81.2%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
12% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
24 minLowest
4% below ME
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.2%±4.3
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 133 in ME — — #66 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD — — RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Wells High School — — Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
— —
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.