Compare towns
Wells vs Williston vs Ogunquit 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
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Williston | Ogunquit | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
10,144 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | None in town | — | 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 | 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.