Compare towns
Wells vs Ogunquit vs North Berwick vs York
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%).
North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
York has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | North Berwick | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
1,379Lowest |
1,702 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.1±8.2Lowest 10% below ME |
49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick and York 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% |
17.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2 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% |
23.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$98,317±$69k 32% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
| York 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±$23k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$346,900±$86kLowest 17% above ME |
$636,400±$30k 115% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
— | $1,088±$247Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
| York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,164Lowest 4% above ME |
$4,658Highest 53% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.8%±35.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and York 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | #82 of 133 in ME | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | — | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.