Compare towns
Wells vs Dover 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 the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,466Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Wells and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest 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% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Dover 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% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest 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±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Wells 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. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.