Compare towns
Wells vs Newfields vs Gray vs Kennebunk
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Newfields | Gray | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
2,023Lowest |
8,429 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Kennebunk 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Newfields 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newfields School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.