Compare towns
Dorset vs Topsham vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Dorset | Topsham | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
9,706Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Rupert 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.