Compare towns
Wells vs Topsham vs Orrington
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%).
Topsham has the most renters (21.1% rent).
Orrington has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Topsham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
9,706 |
3,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
| Wells and Orrington 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
| Orrington 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 64% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215 6% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| 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.