Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Dedham 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
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($485k 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 | Eliot | Ogunquit | Dedham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
25,237Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Dedham | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.