Compare towns
Topsham vs Franklin 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).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Franklin | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,590Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Franklin and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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.