Compare towns
Wells vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
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%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Wells | Dedham | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% 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. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest 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 | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% 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% |
78.3% 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. |
1982 2 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dedham | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Dedham High | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.