Compare towns
Wells vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
16,038Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Windham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Windham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.