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Lorain vs Wells

146 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+70% in Wells) and jobs per worker (2.8× in Lorain).

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Lorain, WIAn outdoors townPolk County · 279 people

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Wells, WIA small town of 430Monroe County · 430 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

LorainAn outdoors town

Outdoors25.3% conserved land14 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Lorain →

WellsA small town of 430

Quiet strengthsWells doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Wells →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill+70%

Tax bills are bigger in Wells

Wells $3,379Lorain $1,983

Jobs per worker2.8×

Lorain is more of a job hub

Lorain 0.25Wells 0.09

Average commute13 min

Wells has the shorter commute

Lorain 35 minWells 22 min

Seasonal homes+24.5 pts

Lorain has more second homes

Lorain 24.5%Wells 0%

Conserved land+23.3 pts

Lorain has more conserved land

Lorain 25.3%Wells 2%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $230 more a month in Wells

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Lorain$1,260/mo

Typical home $209K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · Housing →

Wells$1,490/mo

Typical home $230K (Census) · tax rate 1.47% · Housing →

The difference: $230 a month, about $2,700 a year, between Wells and Lorain.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

LorainWells

Snow a year61″55″

January low5°F 11°F

July high81°F 81°F

Growing season (days)149d 170d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd 52nd

Outdoors & history

LorainWells

Trails14 mi —

Conserved land25.3%—

Archive photos—1

Community

LorainWells

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

146 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LorainPolk County WellsMonroe County

Lorain ↔ Wells146 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

LorainWells

People

Population 279Lowest 430Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — +8.3% WI: +3.6%

Median age 42.1±15.2Lowest 5% above WI 42.2±6Highest 5% above WI

Wells and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 16.5%±6.4Lowest WI: 21.4% 23.7%±5.5Highest WI: 21.4%

Wells and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 24.4%±3.7 WI: 18.5% 24.4%±3.6 WI: 18.5%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17.7%Highest WI: 33.4% 17.4%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8% 2.8%±1.6Highest WI: 5.8%

Wells and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $75,750±$15kHighest about the WI average $75,417±$17kLowest about the WI average

Lorain and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $208,600±$19kLowest 22% below WI $230,000±$26kHighest 14% below WI

Wells and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,983Lowest 48% below WI $3,379Highest 11% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7% 45.5%±100Highest WI: 43.7%

Wells and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 3.2%Lowest WI: 10.6% 11%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 97.3%Highest WI: 67.8% 92%Lowest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1976Lowest 1 yr newer than WI 1979Highest 4 yrs newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 35 minHighest 58% above WI 22 minLowest about the WI average

Work from home 9.6%±5.9Highest WI: 13.1% 6.4%±5.2Lowest WI: 13.1%

Lorain and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.8%Highest 0.4%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miHighest 22.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.25Highest 0.09Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Frederic (8%)Sparta (15%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WellsFew work in Lorain

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 25.3%Highest 2%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 14.0 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.1Lowest 1.4Highest

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Lorain neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lorain’s Town Square.

Wells neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wells’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Lorain and Wells

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Lorain

La Follette657 people · $309K homes

McKinley397 people · $220K homes

Clam Falls543 people · $206K homes

Roosevelt281 people · $243K homes

Towns like Lorain

Peru321 people · $200K homes

Strickland321 people · $228K homes

Grover230 people · $250K homes

Two Creeks369 people · $212K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Wisconsin towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.