What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Belfast	Topsham
People
Population	6,986Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Lowest 37% above ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Topsham and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 71	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.