Compare towns
Dalton vs Topsham vs Croydon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Dalton | Topsham | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
999Highest |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Croydon and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$991±$336Highest 30% below U.S. |
| Croydon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.