What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).

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	Pembroke
People
Population	11,713Highest	7,438Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Pembroke 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.	$89,519±$22kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Pembroke 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.	$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Wells and Pembroke 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.	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pembroke 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%	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Pembroke School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.1Highest
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.