Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Dover | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
2,308 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%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. |
47.5±4Lowest 22% 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest 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% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest 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. |
1967Lowest 13 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 |
37 minHighest 39% 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% |
37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | — | 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 | 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.