What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has the most people working from home (3.6%).

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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	Dresden
People
Population	671Highest	551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY	59±2.8Lowest 48% above NY
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.9%±7.6Highest NY: 17.9%	27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	1.8%±3Lowest NY: 7%
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY	$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY	$191,500±$48kLowest 55% below NY
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,066±$109 34% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,588Lowest 61% below NY	$3,138Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.4%±48.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dresden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NY: 14%	7.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 32% above NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	3.6%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%	1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wells and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.