Population 9,055 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wells
Household size in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Wells is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.42, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.5 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.1 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.5 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Wells skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 48.1, in line with the national trend. Only five of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Wells (8.9%), below the national share of 11.6%. Maine as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Wells
Renters in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 10.9% of households in Wells rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 41.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.8 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people, only five have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 33.8% of the housing in Wells, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Wells is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the southeast. Wells has the newest homes of any Maine city with 5,000+ people.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $881 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $896 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,027 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,414 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$533 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Wells costs $1,414 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Maine overall ($1,230). Rent has climbed $533 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 26.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Wells
Bachelor's degrees in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.0% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.0 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Wells (43.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.0 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.8% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.6% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Wells: 96.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Maine. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Wells
| Period | Wells | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Wells is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Maine overall (3.9%). Unemployment has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Wells compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 2.37 | 50.5 | 8.9% | 10.9% | 33.8% | 1992 | $1,414 | 43.0% | 96.0% | 6.0% |
| Highpine | 2.62 | 41.8 | 8.1% | 8.5% | 16.2% | 1994 | $1,454 | 39.0% | 94.9% | 6.6% |
| Moody | 2.35 | 54.6 | 5.0% | 2.9% | 51.9% | 1992 | $1,382 | 50.3% | 98.6% | 8.5% |
| Ogunquit | 2.07 | 62.7 | 1.8% | 5.7% | 67.7% | 1978 | $1,344 | 63.1% | 98.7% | 0.0% |
| Wells Branch | 2.21 | 60.3 | 2.0% | 1.2% | 5.6% | 1989 | $1,627 | 45.6% | 92.7% | 2.2% |
| Kennebunk | 2.18 | 51.8 | 7.7% | 20.2% | 12.2% | 1982 | $1,500 | 50.6% | 96.5% | 4.6% |
| West Kennebunk | 2.47 | 43.1 | 8.6% | 11.0% | 2.2% | 1987 | $1,645 | 47.8% | 98.2% | 5.9% |
| North Berwick | 2.46 | 42.7 | 9.6% | 12.5% | 9.1% | 1976 | $1,165 | 29.8% | 96.3% | 3.1% |
| South Sanford | 2.28 | 50.1 | 3.8% | 14.6% | 11.5% | 1981 | $1,199 | 26.9% | 92.6% | 1.9% |
| Kennebunkport | 2.34 | 47.9 | 11.9% | 18.4% | 22.5% | 1986 | $1,520 | 44.1% | 97.9% | 2.8% |
| Cape Neddick | 2.60 | 47.2 | 7.6% | 18.3% | 37.8% | 1978 | $1,626 | 47.5% | 96.6% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Waterville, OH · Camilla, GA · Camp Swift, TX · Campbell, OH · Canton, TX · Cape Elizabeth, ME · Capistrano Beach, CA · Caribou, ME · Carleton, MI · Carrollton, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Wells. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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