What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the most affordable homes ($341k median).

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Wells
People
Population	6,986Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wells and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Belfast and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME	$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME	$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME
	Wells and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Highest 37% above ME	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	28 minHighest 12% above ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 71	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.