What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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	Pembroke	Wells
People
Population	7,438Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,519±$22kHighest 11% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Pembroke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
	Wells and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pembroke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Pembroke School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.