Compare towns
Lyme vs Wells vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Lyme | Wells | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
11,713Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,779 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | 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 Our Story | 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.