What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).

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	Barnstead
People
Population	11,713Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead 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%	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Wells 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.	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead 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.	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Wells 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Barnstead School District
High school 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

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.