Compare towns
Wells vs Otisfield vs Harrison
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%).
Otisfield has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
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 | Otisfield | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,951Lowest |
2,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
56.8±4.8Highest 27% above ME |
56±3.6 25% above ME |
| Otisfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Otisfield 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% |
23.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$84,271±$15k 13% above ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Wells and Otisfield 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 |
$317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,300±$872 14% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Wells and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,652Lowest 13% below ME |
$2,731 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Wells 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% |
10.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%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 minLowest 12% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Otisfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.