Compare towns
Wells vs Danvers vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | Wells | Danvers | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
28,098Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Wells 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Wells 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Danvers 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.