Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton Beach vs Walden
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 most kids (15.1% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
2,605Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.