Compare towns
Wells vs Plainfield vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
2,522 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 46% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Plainfield School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.