Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampstead vs Mapleton 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Eliot | Hampstead | Mapleton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
9,102 |
1,884Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.