Compare towns
Durham vs Jefferson vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Durham | Jefferson | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
2,647Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Topsham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None 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.