Compare towns
Wells vs Dover vs Windsor
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
33,364Highest |
3,554Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Wells and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Wells 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% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Windsor 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wells 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. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% 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. |
$5,209 67% 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than 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. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest 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 | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.