What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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	Hampden
People
Population	11,713Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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 18% above ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
	Wells and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Wells and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 12% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	RSU 22
High school in town	Wells High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.