Compare towns
Wells vs Paris vs Ogunquit 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 the most kids (18% under 18).
Paris has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Paris | Ogunquit | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
5,317 |
1,379Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 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% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris 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±$11k 18% above ME |
$75,137±$20kLowest about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% 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 |
$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
— | — | $1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$2,649Lowest 13% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris 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% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — | 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 |
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.