Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Wiscasset vs Dover
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%).
Wiscasset has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Wiscasset | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
3,874 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.8±6.3 25% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Eliot 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% |
28%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wiscasset 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ogunquit 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$71,118±$37kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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. |
$325,200±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,518±$485Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$3,550Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.6%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Wiscasset 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 | — | #108 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Wiscasset Public Schools | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wiscasset Middle/High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.