Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Wells vs Durham
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wells | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
11,713Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below 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%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton Falls 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls 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.