Compare towns
Wells vs Lyme 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 (+5.6%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Lyme | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,710Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme 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 U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Lyme School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.