What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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.

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

Measure	Madison	Wells
People
Population	2,680Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 29% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
	Wells and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Madison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Madison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Madison School District	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

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.