Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick 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

Dunbarton has the highest household income ($124k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.

MeasureDunbartonOgunquitSouth BerwickWells
People
Population
3,097
1,379Lowest
7,670
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
—
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #33 of 120 in NH — #58 of 133 in ME #22 of 133 in ME
School district Dunbarton School District — RSU 35/MSAD 35 Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town — Marshwood High School Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.0Highest
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.