Compare towns
Wells vs Sheldon vs Ogunquit vs York
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
York has the most renters (18.5% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Ogunquit | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
2,267 |
1,379Lowest |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and York 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3 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±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| York 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 46% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York and Wells 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,658Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | — | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.