Compare towns
Topsham vs Union vs Wells
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 affordable homes ($223k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Union | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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 10% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Union 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 33% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Union and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 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 | 18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.