Compare towns
Wells vs Whitingham vs Wright 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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Wright has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Wright | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,368 |
1,739Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Wright 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Wright 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 27% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Wells and Wright 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. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.