Compare towns
Weare vs Wells vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Weare | Wells | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
11,713Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
| Wells and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Weare and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
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.