Compare towns
Wells vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
5,876Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest 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% |
20.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Topsham 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. |
$101,053±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Topsham 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. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$4,960Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Topsham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.