Compare towns
Lyman vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dayton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Lyman | Ogunquit | Wells | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Wells and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.