What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Wells	Danvers
People
Population	11,713Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers 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	#22 of 133 in ME	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Wells High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.8Highest
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.