Compare towns
Wells vs Rye 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
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Rye | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
5,611 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% 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. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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% |
61.5% 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%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Berwick 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Rye 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% |
6.9%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% |
85.5% 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. |
1972Lowest 8 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 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Rye 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.