Compare towns
Wells vs Dover vs North Berwick vs York
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 most affordable homes ($429k median).
York has the most people working from home (26%).
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 | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
33,364Highest |
5,129Lowest |
13,986 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% 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. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Wells and York 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% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and York 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% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and York 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1%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% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest 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±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| York and North Berwick 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,490±$336 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and York 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. |
$4,658 49% 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% |
56.5%±10.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and York 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% 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% |
81.5% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older 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. |
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% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School | Noble High School | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.7Highest |
12.0 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.