Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs North Hampton vs Gray
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).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | North Hampton | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,426Highest |
4,543Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Gray 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$3,683 18% 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% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Gray 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% |
3.5% 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% |
82.4% 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.