Compare towns

Dublin vs Wells vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

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.

MeasureDublinWellsTopsham
People
Population
1,688Lowest
11,713Highest
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±8.4
27% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
44.7±4Lowest
15% above U.S.
Wells and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Dublin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,659±$14kHighest
30% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$91,028±$10k
13% above U.S.
Dublin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$430,500±$72k
29% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Wells and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$165Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,355±$642Highest
4% below U.S.
Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,165Highest
162% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$4,259
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±8.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
22%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dublin 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 — #22 of 133 in ME #66 of 133 in ME
School district Contoocook Valley School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town Wells High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.