Compare towns

Wells vs Dover 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

Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% 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.

MeasureWellsDoverOgunquitNorth Berwick
People
Population
11,713
33,364Highest
1,379Lowest
5,129
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
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.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.6±4.7
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
North Berwick 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±5
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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
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%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$101,875±$16k
26% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$428,500±$33kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
—
$1,105±$116Lowest
22% below U.S.
Dover 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.
$8,249Highest
164% 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%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Berwick 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%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%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 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.
23 minLowest
14% 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%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±5.8Lowest
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
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Dover School District — RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Wells High School Dover Senior High School — Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.7Highest
—
12.0
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.