Compare towns

Wells vs Seabrook Beach vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk

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 youngest population (median age 53.6).
Seabrook Beach has the most expensive homes ($921k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk 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 BeachOgunquitKennebunk
People
Population
11,713Highest
1,001Lowest
1,379
6,221
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Lowest
38% above U.S.
62±3.8
59% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
54.3±7.2
40% 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%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
5.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Wells 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%
30.9%±4.5Lowest
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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.2
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.
$95,169±$21k
18% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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.
$920,900±$75kHighest
177% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$452,800±$17kLowest
36% 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±$575Highest
22% above U.S.
—
$1,466±$261
4% above U.S.
Seabrook Beach and Kennebunk 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.
$4,771
53% 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%
40.3%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Seabrook Beach and Wells 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%Lowest
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.
1980
same as 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
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
39.5%±20
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±10.2
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 — — #9 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD — — —
High school in town Wells High School — — —
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.