Compare towns
Dover vs Wells vs Wilmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Dover | Wells | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
59.1±4.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±4Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.6%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilmington and Wells 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% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$70,000±$23k 13% below U.S. |
| Wells and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$287,700±$16kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,106±$95 22% below U.S. |
| Wells and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,299Highest 70% 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% |
40.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Wilmington 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±6Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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 |
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.