Compare towns
Wells vs Hope vs Speculator
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Speculator has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Hope | Speculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 671Highest |
587 |
409Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
50.3±8.5Lowest 26% above NY |
55.8±10.7 40% above NY |
| Wells and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
6.1%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Hope and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.7%±10.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
38.1%±18.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Speculator and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
52.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±4.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Speculator and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY |
$72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
$63,864±$6kLowest 26% below NY |
| Wells and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
$211,300±$106kLowest 50% below NY |
$250,000±$91k 41% below NY |
| Wells and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,225±$217Highest 24% below NY |
$1,042±$244Lowest 36% below NY |
| Hope and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,588 61% below NY |
$2,551Lowest 61% below NY |
$3,208Highest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.2%±34.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Hope and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.5% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
62.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 32% above NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
12 minLowest 65% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
19.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Speculator and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
NY 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.