Compare towns
Wells vs North Hampton vs Kennebunk 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 affordable homes ($485k median).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Kennebunk has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | North Hampton | Kennebunk | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
4,543 |
11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Wells 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% |
26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 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±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
— |
| North Hampton 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | North Hampton School District | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.