Compare towns
Wells vs Newport vs Ogunquit
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 the most kids (18% under 18).
Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Newport | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
4,394 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Ogunquit 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 9% above U.S. |
$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,036 29% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newport and Wells 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% |
23%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #63 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | North Country Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.