Compare towns
Topsham vs Washington 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 kids (18% under 18).
Washington has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Washington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,056 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Washington 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% |
31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Washington 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 |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.