Compare towns
Newbury vs Wells 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
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Newbury | Wells | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,027Lowest |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.6 37% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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 | $116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,400±$36k 39% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,695 83% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±24.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newbury 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.