Compare towns
Hampden vs Sutton 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
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($286k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Hampden | Sutton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,161Lowest |
9,452 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±6.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,228±$22k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,900±$33kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$375Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,863Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Sutton | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.