Compare towns

Wells vs Rockland vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Kennebunk has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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.

MeasureWellsRocklandKennebunkOgunquit
People
Population
11,713Highest
7,035
6,221
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
ME: +2.6%
-4.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.6±3.8
20% above ME
49.3±6Lowest
10% above ME
54.3±7.2
21% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
15.5%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
18.1%±4.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Kennebunk and Wells 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%
25.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
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%
35.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
52%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
Wells and Ogunquit 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
$56,533±$6kLowest
24% below ME
$95,169±$21k
27% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% 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
$245,800±$38kLowest
17% below ME
$452,800±$17k
53% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$1,092±$105Lowest
4% below ME
$1,466±$261Highest
29% 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
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
$4,059
34% above ME
$4,771Highest
57% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
57.6%±15.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±13.2
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Rockland 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%
10.4%
ME: 10.7%
11.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
62%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
73.1%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1948Lowest
29 yrs older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
12% above ME
12 minLowest
50% below ME
23 min
8% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22.1%±7.5
ME: 15.9%
36.6%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
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 #96 of 133 in ME #9 of 133 in ME —
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 — —
High school in town Wells High School Oceanside High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
10.7Lowest
— —
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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.