What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wells	Gardner
People
Population	11,713Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner 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±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Wells and Gardner 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.	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gardner and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Gardner
High school in town	Wells High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.