Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs Seabrook Beach
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
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 | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,426Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest 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% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest 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±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43k 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Seabrook Beach 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. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,725±$575Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Seabrook Beach 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | — |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| 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.