Compare towns
Wells vs Topsham vs Walden
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%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Topsham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
999Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% 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% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Wells and Walden 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 |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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 |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.