Compare towns
Weare vs Wells vs Gilford
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%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
11,713Highest |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Wells and Gilford 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% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Gilford 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% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
| Weare and Gilford 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±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Wells and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,150±$747Lowest 19% 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 | $6,272Highest 101% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest 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 | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Wells High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.