Compare towns
Wells vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
699Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wells and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 minLowest 41% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.