Compare towns
Groton vs Cornish 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
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Groton | Cornish | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,816Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.