What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).

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	Sutton	Wells
People
Population	9,452Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.
	Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
	Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%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	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Wells 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	#105 of 282 in MA	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Sutton	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Sutton High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.