Compare towns

Wells vs Seabrook Beach vs Ogunquit vs Eliot

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 the most kids (18% under 18).
Seabrook Beach has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureWellsSeabrook BeachOgunquitEliot
People
Population
11,713Highest
1,001Lowest
1,379
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
62±3.8
59% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Lowest
31% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Eliot 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%
42.1%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Seabrook Beach 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%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
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.
$93,571±$43k
16% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kLowest
46% above U.S.
$920,900±$75kHighest
177% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Seabrook Beach 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.
$1,725±$575
22% above U.S.
—
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Seabrook Beach 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
90.5%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Seabrook Beach and Eliot 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%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
39.5%±20
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Seabrook Beach 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 — — #19 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD — — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Wells High School — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
— — —
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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.