Compare towns
Wells vs Pelham vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Pelham | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
14,449Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 9% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Pelham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.


