Compare towns
Dresden vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Harrison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Dresden | Ogunquit | Wells | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
56±3.6 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,731 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Harrison 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 | RSU 02 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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 | 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.