Compare towns
South Hampton vs Franconia 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
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Franconia | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,060 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and South Hampton 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 | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school 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 |
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.