Compare towns
Wells vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
5,719Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Lee and Wells 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% |
12.6%±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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Wells 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Wells 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lee | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Lee Middle/High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.