Compare towns
Wells vs Sanford vs Ogunquit vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Sanford | Ogunquit | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
22,247Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
42.1±2.8Lowest 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Sanford 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% |
20.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±0.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham 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 18% above ME |
$72,524±$7kLowest about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Topsham 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 |
$280,200±$10kLowest 6% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,152±$72Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham 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 |
$3,708 22% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±7.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sanford 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% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #100 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Sanford Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Sanford High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
17.7Highest |
— | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.