Compare towns
Wells vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($75k).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Lancaster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
2,230Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Washington 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% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Wells and Lancaster 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. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Wells and Lancaster 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. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| 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.