Compare towns

Wells vs Hampton vs North Hampton

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).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).

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.

MeasureWellsHamptonNorth Hampton
People
Population
11,713
16,426Highest
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Lowest
30% 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%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
North Hampton 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%
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9Lowest
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%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Hampton 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.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kLowest
46% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,805±$106Highest
28% above U.S.
North Hampton 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.
$8,529Highest
173% 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%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Hampton 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 #12 of 120 in NH
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District North Hampton 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
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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.