Compare towns
Brentwood vs Dover vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Brentwood | Dover | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brentwood and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brentwood and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Dover School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 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.