Compare towns
Topsham vs Whitingham 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 people working from home (14.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Whitingham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,368Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Topsham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Whitingham 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $4,006 21% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 49% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Wells 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.