Compare towns
Durham vs Lawrence vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Lawrence | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
88,736Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| 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±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lawrence | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.