What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,713Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Wells and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Wells 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.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Wells and Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Wells 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Wells High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.