Compare towns
Wells vs Durham vs Washington
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
15,080Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Washington 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Oyster River Coop School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.