What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).

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	Sutton
People
Population	11,713Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton 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%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Sutton 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.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Wells and Sutton 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.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Sutton
High school in town	Wells High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.6Highest
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.