Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Dorset 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
Kennebunk has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Dorset | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
2,092 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 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 | $95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.