What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas
People
Population	11,713Highest	9,207Lowest
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.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Douglas 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.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Wells and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Douglas 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%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Douglas
High school in town	Wells High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	7.2Lowest
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.