Compare towns
Wells vs Bakersfield vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Bakersfield | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
1,109 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wells and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 minLowest 40% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.