What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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	Standish
People
Population	11,713Highest	10,662Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wells and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	36%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME
	Standish 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	$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME
	Wells and Standish 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	$3,005Lowest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Standish 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%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 12% above ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wells and Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Wells High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.5Highest
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.