Compare towns
Wells vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Webster | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
12,228Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Topsham 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below 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. |
$333,100±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% 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. |
$3,234 4% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.