Compare towns
Wells vs Jackson 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
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k 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 | Jackson | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
897Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Jackson and Gray 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Jackson School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.