What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	11,713Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Lowest 38% above U.S.
	Wells and Westminster 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%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster 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%	27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Westminster 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.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.