What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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	South Berwick
People
Population	11,713Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Wells 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%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wells and South Berwick 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 18% above ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
	South Berwick 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 64% above ME	$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
	South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 12% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Wells High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.0Highest
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.