Compare towns
Dorset vs Ogunquit 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
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Dorset | Ogunquit | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,379 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.