What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Wells	Amherst
People
Population	11,713Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 133 in ME	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.4Lowest
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.