Compare towns
Wells vs Dorset vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Dorset | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
2,092Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Dorset 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. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Dorset 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.