Compare towns
Wells vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Wells | Exeter | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
913Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,485Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Washington 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.