Compare towns
Dummer vs Topsham vs Stark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering DummerMilan
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 50.1).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Dummer | Topsham | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
999Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$398 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Stark 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 | Stark 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.