Compare towns
Wells vs Thornton vs Ogunquit vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Thornton | Ogunquit | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
2,799 |
1,379Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and North Berwick 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. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and North Berwick 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. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Wells and Thornton 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 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. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Thornton School District | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.0Highest |
| 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.