Compare towns
Andover vs Wells vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the highest household income ($89k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Andover | Wells | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
11,713Highest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Wells and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Andover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Wells and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Andover 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 | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.