Compare towns
Wells vs Plaistow vs Ogunquit vs North 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
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Plaistow | Ogunquit | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
7,861 |
1,379Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Plaistow 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Timberlane Regional School District | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Timberlane Regional High School | — | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.