Compare towns
Belgrade vs Durham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Topsham has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Belgrade | Durham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
4,262 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 18% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
— | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.