Compare towns
Wells vs Townsend vs Ogunquit vs South 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
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
9,100 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Townsend 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Townsend 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. |
$4,956 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest 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. |
1982 2 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | North Middlesex | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | North Middlesex Regional | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | 13.0 |
| 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.