Compare towns
Wells vs York vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
York has the highest household income ($121k).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($345k 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 | York | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
13,986Highest |
2,617Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.5±5.2Lowest 10% above ME |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Wells and Bethel 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% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Bethel 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 |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
| York and Wells 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 |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$344,900±$37kLowest 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$4,658Highest 53% above ME |
$2,835Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| York 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and York 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | York Public Schools | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | York High School | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.