Compare towns
Wells vs Dover vs Kennebunk vs Topsham
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Dover | Kennebunk | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
33,364Highest |
6,221Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Kennebunk 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% 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% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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. |
$95,169±$21kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17k 36% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wells 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.