Compare towns
Dedham vs North Berwick 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
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Dedham | North Berwick | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
5,129 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 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+ | 49.5% ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$101,875±$16k 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$428,500±$33k 44% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
| Dedham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 30% above ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Noble High School | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.