Compare towns

Wells vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Gray

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.

MeasureWellsDedhamOgunquitGray
People
Population
11,713
25,237Highest
1,379Lowest
8,429
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Lowest
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+
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
—
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 133 in ME #119 of 282 in MA — #10 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD — — RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Wells High School — — Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
— —
12.5Highest
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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.