Compare towns

Wells vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).

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.

MeasureWellsWebsterNorth Berwick
People
Population
11,713Highest
2,227Lowest
5,129
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
44.7±7.6
15% above U.S.
41.6±4.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
Wells and Webster 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%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4Lowest
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.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
$101,875±$16k
26% above U.S.
Webster and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
$338,500±$30kLowest
about the U.S. average
$428,500±$33k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,105±$116Lowest
22% below U.S.
Webster and Wells 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.
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$3,735
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Berwick and Webster 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%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells and Webster 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 — #82 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Merrimack Valley School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Wells High School None in town Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
—
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.