Compare towns
Wells vs Dorset vs Ogunquit vs North 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
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Wells | Dorset | Ogunquit | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
2,092 |
1,379Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and North Berwick 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorset 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. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Wells 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | 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 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.