What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k median).

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	Newport	Wells
People
Population	4,394Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.3Lowest 19% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
	Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S.	$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,036Highest 29% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	16.8%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	North Country Union High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.