Compare towns
Wells vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
27,793Highest |
5,129Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Wells 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.