Compare towns
Wells vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
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 | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
16,038Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Topsham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Windham School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.