Compare towns
Wells vs Salisbury 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Salisbury has the most renters (28.8% rent).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Salisbury | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
9,281 |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and North Berwick 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. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Wells and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Salisbury 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Triton | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.