What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wells	Winthrop
People
Population	11,713Highest	6,191Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME	43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Winthrop and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Wells and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	40%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wells and Winthrop 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 18% above ME	$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME
	Wells and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME	$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME	$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME
	Wells and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 6% above ME	$3,506Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Winthrop 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 ME: 10.7%	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 12% above ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Winthrop 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	#12 of 133 in ME
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town	Wells High School	Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.