Compare towns

Wells vs Westminster vs Kennebunk

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%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Kennebunk has the highest household income ($108k).

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.

MeasureWellsWestminsterKennebunk
People
Population
11,713
2,999Lowest
11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Lowest
38% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Wells 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%
27.6%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Kennebunk 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
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Westminster 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
9% above U.S.
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$487,700±$21kHighest
47% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$916±$126Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,425±$290Highest
about the U.S. average
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
3% above U.S.
$4,063
30% above U.S.
$4,999Highest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT #9 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District RSU 21
High school in town Wells High School Bellows Falls Union High School Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
10.6Lowest
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.