Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Newfields | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.