Compare towns
Bath vs Wells vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Bath | Wells | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and Dover 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.