What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	Rochester
People
Population	11,713Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester 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%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Rochester 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 9% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
	Wells and Rochester 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.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.
	Rochester and Wells 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.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Rochester School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.2Highest
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.