What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopkinton	Wells
People
Population	6,037Lowest	11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.8Lowest 16% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hopkinton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hopkinton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$137,477±$21kHighest 70% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.
	Hopkinton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.
	Wells and Hopkinton 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.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hopkinton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hopkinton 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	#28 of 120 in NH	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Hopkinton School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Hopkinton High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.