Compare towns
Wells vs Williston vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.
| Measure | Wells | Williston | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
10,144 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Wells and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Gray 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Gray 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gray 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Wells and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.