Photo: BMRR from en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Wells spent less per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar towns
Wells’ town government spent $7.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $665 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.
What stands out about how Wells is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$665 per resident in 2022: less than 74% of them
Wells’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($665 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 72 Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $846, and the middle half spent $624–$1,112. Wells spent less than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($487,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Wells itself left out).
About $665 per resident a year, or $1.82 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 9%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Wells collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
No trend yet
Wells reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,215 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Wells’ rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Wells’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Wells →
Who’s in charge in Wells
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Wells’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on wellstown.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 114 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (10,819).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Wells-Ogunquit Community School District
Wells’ K–12 school district, shared with Ogunquit. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,884 per pupil, $11,840 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Maine districts overall: 52% local, 40% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Wells voted in 2024
Official results for Wells’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat55.5%4,675 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican42.7%3,598 votesOthers: 1.7% (145 votes).
Most votes in Wells: Kamala D Harris
Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%
of Wells’ 9,465 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Wells: Angus S King Jr
Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%
President, 2024: Wells, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 55.5% | 42.7% | 1.7% | 8,418 |
| Maine | 52.4% | 45.5% | 2.1% | 831,375 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Wells.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: wellstown.org ↗
- 2Maine HouseWells is split between 2 districts
- 3Maine SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maine
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Wells compares with the towns next door
Wells spent $665 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $763 to $1,318. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| South Berwick | $763 | $4,956 |
| Kennebunk | $1,318 | $4,999 |
| Ogunquit | estimate | $4,473 |
| North Berwick | estimate | $3,735 |
| Wells | $665 | $3,215 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Wells’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Wells’ government
How much does Wells spend per resident?
About $665 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $665 was less than 74% of 72 Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Wells?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,215 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see wellstown.org.
Who runs Wells’ government?
See wellstown.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Wells yet.
How did Wells vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 55.5%, Donald J Trump 42.7% (8,418 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.
How many people work for Wells?
95 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $564,423 (about $6.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Wells in the state legislature?
Wells is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 34 (Joe Rafferty). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Wells’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →