Compare towns
Wells vs Scarborough vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Scarborough | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
23,215Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough 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±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Scarborough 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 64% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83 52% above ME |
| Scarborough 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 6% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Scarborough Public Schools | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Scarborough High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.0Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.