What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gilford has the highest household income ($117k).

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	Gilford
People
Population	11,713Highest	7,830Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	48.2±3.9Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Wells and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gilford 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%	21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Gilford 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.	$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$456,500±$56kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Wells and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Wells and Gilford 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.	$4,868Highest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilford 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%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Gilford 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	#45 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Gilford School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Gilford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.