What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Paris has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	Paris
People
Population	11,713Highest	5,317Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME
	Wells and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wells and Paris 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%	24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Wells and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Paris 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±$11kHighest 18% above ME	$75,137±$20kLowest about the ME average
	Wells and Paris 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	$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297 19% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Highest 6% above ME	$2,649Lowest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Paris 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 ME: 10.7%	12.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 12% above ME	22 minLowest 9% below ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Paris 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	#114 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	RSU 17/MSAD 17
High school in town	Wells High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.