Compare towns
Wells vs Vinalhaven vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the youngest population (median age 53.6).
Vinalhaven has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Vinalhaven | Ogunquit | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,216Lowest |
1,379 |
6,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
62.8±4.8 40% above ME |
54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit 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 ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 64% above ME |
$428,400±$44kLowest 44% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
— | $1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,771Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.