Compare towns
Newbury vs Wells vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Newbury | Wells | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,027 |
11,713Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.6 37% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,400±$36k 39% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,695 83% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±24.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown and Newbury 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 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| 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.