What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).

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	Peterborough
People
Population	11,713Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	52.1±1.9Lowest 34% above U.S.
	Wells and Peterborough 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%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Peterborough 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%	30.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Peterborough 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.	$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Peterborough 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.	$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average
	Peterborough and Wells 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.	$8,655Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells and Peterborough 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%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.0Highest
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.