Compare towns
Wells vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
9,452Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Sutton | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Sutton High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.