Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wells vs Proctor vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Troy has the most renters (13.4% 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 | Sheldon | Wells | Proctor | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
11,713Highest |
1,794 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Wells and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Wells and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.