Photo: Dclemens1971 · CC BY 4.0In Wells, 88% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across New York
Wells’ town government spent $0 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $0 per resident.
What stands out about how Wells is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
Wells Central School District
Wells’ K–12 school district, shared with Hope. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $41,812 per pupil, $25,000 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
New York districts overall: 51% local, 41% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
No comparison or trend for Wells yet
The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Wells’ 2022 operating figures are mostly a Census estimate, so they aren’t compared. It reported 2022 only, so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.
How Town Hall compares budgets →The typical homeowner pays $2,588 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.96% of the home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Wells’ rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Wells’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Wells →
Who’s in charge in Wells
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 61 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (613).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
How Wells voted in 2024
Official results for Wells’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican75.6%378 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat24.2%121 votesOthers: 0.2% (1 votes).
Most votes in Wells: Donald J Trump
Hamilton County: Trump 64.6%, Harris 35.2% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%
of Wells’ 570 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Wells: Michael D Sapraicone
Hamilton County: Sapraicone 61.3%, Gillibrand 38.3% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%
Most votes in the district: Elise M Stefanik
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Wells, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 75.6% | 24.2% | 0.2% | 500 |
| Hamilton County | 64.6% | 35.2% | 0.1% | 3,439 |
| New York | 43.3% | 55.9% | 0.8% | 8,262,600 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Wells.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2New York AssemblyState representatives
- 3New York SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New York
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Wells compares with the towns next door
Wells’ 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,118 to $6,264 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Creek | $2,118 | $2,010 |
| Benson | $2,237 | $2,528 |
| Hope | $2,261 | $2,551 |
| Indian Lake | $2,961 | $2,505 |
| Lake Pleasant | $3,077 | $2,813 |
| Speculator | $3,327 | $3,208 |
| Arietta | $6,264 | $1,577 |
| Johnsburg | estimate | $2,973 |
| Wells | estimate | $2,588 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Wells’ government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Wells’ government
How much does Wells spend per resident?
About $0 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau.
What is the property tax rate in Wells?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,588 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.96% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.
Who runs Wells’ government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Wells yet.
How did Wells vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 75.6%, Kamala D Harris 24.2% (500 votes, official results). Hamilton County: Trump 64.6%, Harris 35.2%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.
How many people work for Wells?
10 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $99,886 (about $1.2M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Wells in the state legislature?
State Senate District 49 (Mark Walczyk) and Assembly District 118 (Robert Smullen). The Assembly district also covers 71 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Wells’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →