Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Dover vs Lancaster 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($485k 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 | Ogunquit | Dover | Lancaster | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
5,930 |
8,606 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 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+ | 63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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 | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.