Compare towns
South Hampton vs Wells vs Newton
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 most expensive homes ($661k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
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 | Wells | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newton 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newton 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.