What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

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	Portsmouth	Wells
People
Population	22,545Highest	11,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Portsmouth and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8% U.S.: 12.5%	6.8% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 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	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH	#22 of 133 in ME
School district	Portsmouth School District	Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.