Compare towns

Wells vs Townsend vs Ogunquit vs Gray

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).

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.

MeasureWellsTownsendOgunquitGray
People
Population
11,713Highest
9,100
1,379Lowest
8,429
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Gray 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
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%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Townsend 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.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Townsend 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.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
—
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
Townsend and Gray 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.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Townsend 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 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.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 133 in ME #136 of 282 in MA — #10 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD North Middlesex — RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Wells High School North Middlesex Regional — Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
13.1Highest
—
12.5
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.