Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Wells | Hampton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
10,101 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead 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% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | Hampstead 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 | 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.