Compare towns
Wells vs Rye vs Stamford
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stamford has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Rye | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
5,611Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.4±5.5Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stamford and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stamford 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,646±$9k 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$303,200±$25k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,583±$935 12% above U.S. |
| Rye and Stamford 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,113 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Rye School District | Stamford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.