What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% 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	Portsmouth
People
Population	11,713Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wells and Portsmouth 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%	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells and Portsmouth 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.	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.
	Portsmouth 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±$23kLowest 46% above U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth and Wells 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%	6.8% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth and Wells 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Wells-Ogunquit CSD	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Wells High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	11.4
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.