Compare towns
Wells vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
5,920Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wells and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.