Compare towns
Wells vs Upton vs Sutton 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k 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.
| Measure | Wells | Upton | Sutton | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
8,189 |
9,452 |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wells and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and North Berwick 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116 22% below U.S. |
| Wells and Sutton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.0 |
| 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.