Compare towns
Durham vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Durham 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Northbridge | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.