Compare towns
Stark vs Wells vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stark | Wells | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
11,713Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$71,042±$17kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Wells and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,147±$81Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Wells and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$3,981Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Stark 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 | Stark School District | 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 | 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.