Compare towns
Jefferson vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,647Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
| Wells and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Wells and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.