Compare towns
Dayton vs Lyman vs Ogunquit vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Dayton | Lyman | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
4,612 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Wells and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 28% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.