What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Wells
People
Population	1,466Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
	Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S.	$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,510Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover 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	—	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	River Valleys Unified School District #73	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	None in town	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.