Compare towns
Wells vs Stoneham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Stoneham | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
23,355Highest |
6,221Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham 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 9% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.