What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wells	North Berwick
People
Population	11,713Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Berwick 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%	20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	29%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Berwick 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±$11kLowest 18% above ME	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME
	North Berwick 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±$23kHighest 64% above ME	$428,500±$33kLowest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average
	Wells and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 12% above ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and North Berwick 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	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Wells High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.