What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wells	Jaffrey
People
Population	11,713Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey 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%	18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Jaffrey 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.	$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Jaffrey and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S.	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S.	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Wells and Jaffrey 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.	$6,196Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jaffrey 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 133 in ME	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	21.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.