Compare towns
Franconia vs Wells vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Franconia | Wells | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
53.3±3.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$463,400±$36kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Wells and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,695 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±24.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newbury 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 | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.