What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k 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	Penobscot	Wells
People
Population	1,154Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME
	Wells and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±6 ME: 18.1%	18%±3.4 ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME	$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME
	Wells and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average	$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME
	Wells and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME	$3,215Highest 6% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 12% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and Penobscot 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
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	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

ME 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.