Compare towns

Wells vs Dover vs Freeport vs Ogunquit

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureWellsDoverFreeportOgunquit
People
Population
11,713
33,364Highest
8,802
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Wells 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Freeport 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Freeport 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.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
—
Dover and Freeport 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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Dover 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH #4 of 133 in ME —
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Dover School District RSU 05 —
High school in town Wells High School Dover Senior High School Freeport High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.7Highest
12.2
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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.