Compare towns
Dexter vs Wells vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
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 | Dexter | Wells | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,890 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
52.4±3.4 17% above ME |
| Wells and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186 28% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,860Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.3%±34.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Dexter 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 | #113 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #94 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Wells High School | Mattanawcook Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.