Compare towns
Orange vs Appleton vs Topsham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Wells has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Orange | Appleton | Topsham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,360Highest |
999 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Appleton Public Schools | Waits River Union High District #36 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.