What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Mansfield
People
Population	11,713Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield 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.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Mansfield 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Mansfield
High school in town	Wells High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.1Lowest
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.