Compare towns
Wells vs Otis vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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.
| Measure | Wells | Otis | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
705Lowest |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
| Otis and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk 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%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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 |
$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
$95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
| Otis 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±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME |
$452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,466±$261 29% above ME |
| Otis and Kennebunk 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 |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$4,771Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Otis Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.