Compare towns
Danby vs Topsham vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Danby | Topsham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
9,706Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Wardsboro 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.