What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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	Needham
People
Population	11,713Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 133 in ME	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Needham
High school in town	Wells High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.9Highest
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.