Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs Kensington
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 (26.2% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,426Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kensington 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Kensington 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Hampton 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Kensington 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 | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.