Compare towns
Topsham vs Calais vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Calais | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 21% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
VT 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.