Compare towns

Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Windham 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureEliotHampton FallsWindhamTopsham
People
Population
7,146
2,328Lowest
16,038Highest
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Eliot and Hampton Falls 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%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Topsham and Hampton Falls 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.
$166,157±$14k
106% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Windham and Hampton Falls 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.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,355±$642Lowest
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Windham 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%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Hampton Falls 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 — #13 of 120 in NH #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton Falls School District Windham School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8Highest
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.