Compare towns
Wells vs Topsham vs Hampton
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Topsham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
9,706Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Mt Ararat High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.