Compare towns
Orange vs Wayne 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
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Wells | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,033 |
1,148Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Wells 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. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Wells 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school 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.