The Town FilesWells, New York
Town in Hamilton County · population 683 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,600
- Household income
- $74,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 105 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 59.8
Wells is a town of 683 people in Hamilton County, New York. The median home is worth $268,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 97% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of New York towns, easier by car than 84% of New York towns.
How Wells ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wells is worth $268,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $74,286, which is more affordable than 32% of New York towns. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wells | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $74,286 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 56.9% | — |
Who lives in Wells
| People | Wells | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 42.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Wells
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 105.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 1979.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 1,634 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,916 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Wells itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Wells
1 public school with 135 students, about 6.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLS SCHOOL | PK-12 | 135 | 6.1 |
Towns near Wells
- Wells, NY5.8 mi · 531 people · home $272,900
- Lake Pleasant, NY10.0 mi · 897 people · home $248,400
- Stony Creek, NY13.6 mi · 758 people · home $190,000
- Johnsburg, NY14.5 mi · 2,143 people · home $215,600
- Thurman, NY15.1 mi · 1,095 people · home $197,400
- Day, NY16.8 mi · 819 people · home $224,400
- Northville, NY18.8 mi · 993 people · home $207,100
- Edinburg, NY20.5 mi · 1,333 people · home $311,100
Wells questions
Is Wells, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wells scores better for retirees than 59% of New York towns and quieter than 97%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.8).
How much does a house cost in Wells?
The median owner-occupied home in Wells is valued at $268,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,286, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Wells?
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 105.4 inches of snow.
Does Wells get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)