Compare towns
Wells vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Kennebunk | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
1,379Lowest |
11,820Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 18% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
— | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | RSU 21 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | Kennebunk High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.