Compare towns
Wells vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Whitingham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,368Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$908±$398 26% 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
35 minLowest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Wells 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.