Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Marshfield vs Dedham 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%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% 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 | Marshfield | Dedham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
25,879Highest |
25,237 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Dedham 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% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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. |
$125,986±$8k 56% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Marshfield 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. |
$6,656 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #54 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Marshfield | Dedham | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | Marshfield High | Dedham High | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
10.4Lowest |
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.