Compare towns
Dorchester vs Kittery 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 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 | Dorchester | Kittery | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
10,473 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 21% above U.S. |
$4,518Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Wells 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Kittery Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.