Compare towns
Wells vs Dover vs North Berwick vs South 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
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
North Berwick has the highest household income ($102k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | North Berwick | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
33,364Highest |
5,129Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% 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% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and North Berwick 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. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and South 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 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover 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. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and South 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wells 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School | Noble High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7 |
12.0 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.