Compare towns

Danforth vs Mapleton vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureDanforthMapletonTopsham
People
Population
666Lowest
1,884
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.1±4.4Highest
19% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
44.7±4
about the ME average
Danforth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.9%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
Danforth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
50%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$48,125±$8kLowest
36% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$91,028±$10k
22% above ME
Mapleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$89,900±$36kLowest
70% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$360,800±$20kHighest
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$29
45% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,270Lowest
58% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$4,259Highest
40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±57.5
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±12.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
Topsham and Danforth 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%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
78.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
15% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
24 minLowest
4% below ME
Work from home
5.8%±3.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
17.2%±4.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Topsham and Mapleton 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 79/MSAD 01 RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town — None in town Mt Ararat High School
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.