What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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	Lebanon	Wells
People
Population	14,999Highest	11,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Lebanon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Lebanon School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.