What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth	Wells
People
Population	6,601Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S.	$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Wells and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S.	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
	Wells and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,288Highest 102% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Plymouth Regional High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.