Compare towns
Wells vs Berlin vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Wells | Berlin | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
3,378Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Wells and Berlin 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Berlin-Boylston | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.