Compare towns
Wells vs Rockland vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Rockland | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
7,035Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.3±6 10% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 18% above ME |
$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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 64% above ME |
$245,800±$38kLowest 17% below ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| 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 6% above ME |
$4,059 34% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Rockland and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
12 minLowest 50% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Oceanside High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.