What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arkwright has the highest household income ($93k).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arkwright	Topsham
People
Population	859Lowest	999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S.	50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Arkwright and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2%	23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Arkwright and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S.	$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Arkwright and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S.	$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S.
	Topsham and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S.	$908±$398Highest 36% below U.S.
	Topsham and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S.	$4,006Highest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.