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 renters (25.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Ogunquit | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
1,001Lowest |
1,379 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest 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. |
54.6±3.3 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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%±4Lowest 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% |
51.2% 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% |
2.7%±1.4 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. |
$107,804±$8k 34% 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±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% 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. |
— | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$4,999 60% 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% |
37.1%±10.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% 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% |
80.6% 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
32.5%±7.6 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 | — | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.