Compare towns
Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Belgrade
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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most renters (9.9% rent).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Belgrade 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 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±$33k 20% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Belgrade 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% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| 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.