What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k 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	Penobscot
People
Population	11,713Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME
	Wells and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4 ME: 18.1%	18%±6 ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Wells 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%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Wells and Penobscot 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	$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME	$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average
	Wells and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Highest 6% above ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot 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%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 12% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and Penobscot 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	—
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	Wells High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.