Compare towns
Washington vs Topsham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Washington | Topsham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
999Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% 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 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest 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+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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 | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% 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 | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% 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 | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% 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 | $3,485 31% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest 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 | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Waits River Union High District #36 | 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 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.