Census-designated place · New York
Wells, New York
Wells, census-designated place, in Hamilton County, New York. Wells had 531 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 581 (±117). GEOID 3679048.
Residents, 2020 Census
531
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 581 ±117
Median household income
$87,946
±$19,058 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$272,900
±$38,280 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
not published
New York: $1,621
Where is Wells and what county is it in?
Wells is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Hamilton County, New York. It covers 7.7 square miles of land, 69 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wells lies entirely within the Town of Wells, a town with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wells, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 531 residents in Wells, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 581 (±117).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Wells is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Wells | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 581 ±117 | 5,089 | no clear change |
| Households | 223 ±49 | 2,423 | +112 |
| Average household size | 2.43 ±0.28 | 2.00 | −2.99 |
| Housing units | 544 ±69 | 7,911 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wells?
The median resident of Wells is 59.3 years old; 15.3% are under 18 and 27.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 1.7%.
| Measure | Wells | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 ±6.3 | 58.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.3% ±5.1 pts | 12.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.7% ±8.4 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Male | 56.8% ±5.4 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% ±3.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.9% ±3.5 pts | 91.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.8% ±3.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.9% ±2.4 pts | 8.6% | – |
| With a disability | 15.1% ±8.5 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±7.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.8% ±9.1 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.0% ±7.3 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0% ±6.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.7% ±6.3 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wells earn?
Half of Wells's 223 households earn less than $87,946 a year (±$19,058), against $68,835 in Hamilton County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $56,235 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $31,711 after inflation. 5.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wells | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,946 ±$19,058 | $68,835 | +$31,711 |
| Mean household income | $108,861 ±$20,599 | $89,855 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,913 ±$8,569 | $43,752 | +$19,803 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.3% ±3.4 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±35.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.8% ±4.6 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 100.0% ±17.3 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 99.6% ±1.6 pts | 90.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wells?
Owners occupy 95.5% of Wells's occupied homes and renters 4.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $272,900 by its owner (±$38,280).
| Measure | Wells | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $272,900 ±$38,280 | $260,200 | +$74,881 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 0.0% ±100.0 pts | 46.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,794 ±$865 | $1,438 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 95.5% ±5.3 pts | 82.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 4.5% ±5.3 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Housing units | 544 ±69 | 7,911 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.2% ±5.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±100.0 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.9% ±7.1 pts | 83.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.7% ±6.3 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.8% ±2.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.7% ±4.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.3% ±6.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.0% ±17.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Wells work and get to work?
94.5% of Wells's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 40.9 minutes.
| Measure | Wells | Hamilton County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.5% ±11.2 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.6% ±9.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 94.5% ±3.8 pts | 73.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 1.5% ±1.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±18.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±18.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.0% ±3.5 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 40.9 min ±7.7 | 22.6 min | +23.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wells?
No census tract lies mostly in Wells; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9504Hamilton County | 1,529 | $72,143 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wells) · Census block assignment files
How does Wells compare with other places in New York?
Wells is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
Wells's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Wells with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wells?
24 of the 56 figures for Wells on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wells are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.