What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).

Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hallowell	Topsham
People
Population	2,592Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
	Hallowell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	50%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Lowest 27% above ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 43% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell 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	—	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 02	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school 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

ME 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.