What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	11,713Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Northbridge 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.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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 46% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Wells and Northbridge 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.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Wells and Northbridge 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.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Northbridge
High school in town	Wells High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.8Lowest
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.