Compare towns
Nelson vs Wells vs Naples
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Naples has the most renters (12.5% rent).
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 | Nelson | Wells | Naples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
11,713Highest |
3,985 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Naples and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Naples 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nelson School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Lake Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.