Compare towns
Wells vs Dedham vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,656Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick 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 18% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,875±$16k 36% above ME |
| Dedham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$428,500±$33k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average |
| Dedham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 12% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and North Berwick 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.