Compare towns

Wells vs Rockingham 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

Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
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.

MeasureWellsRockinghamOgunquitSouth Berwick
People
Population
11,713Highest
4,807
1,379Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
46.4±2.6
19% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Rockingham 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%
29.8%±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%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rockingham 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
9% above U.S.
$70,857±$16kLowest
12% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Ogunquit and South Berwick 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.
$210,900±$14kLowest
37% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,062±$101Lowest
25% below U.S.
—
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick 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.
$4,887
57% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,956Highest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
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%
61.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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.
20 minLowest
25% 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%
17.9%±7.1
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 #65 of 70 in VT — #58 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Rockingham 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
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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.