What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Bethel	Topsham
People
Population	2,617Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
	Bethel and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bethel and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kLowest 16% above ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Lowest 7% below ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 5% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Telstar 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.