What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Webster
People
Population	11,713Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster 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±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Wells and Webster 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.	$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Wells and Webster 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.	$3,999Highest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 133 in ME	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Webster
High school in town	Wells High School	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.6Highest
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.