Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Hampton 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
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
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.
| Measure | Bowdoin | Hampton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Lowest |
16,426Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.