Compare towns
Topsham vs Wells vs Dover vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Gray has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Topsham | Wells | Dover | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.