Compare towns
Burnham vs Topsham vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Burnham | Topsham | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
9,706Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Highest 8% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Burnham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Topsham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386 15% above ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Topsham and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and Burnham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.