Compare towns
Topsham vs Wells vs Rockport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
11,713Highest |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
48.7±3.7 9% above ME |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rockport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Rockport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$86,979±$16kLowest 16% above ME |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$469,000±$50k 58% above ME |
| Wells and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,194±$667Lowest 5% above ME |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$5,764Highest 90% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±42.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rockport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
11 minLowest 54% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Topsham 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 | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.