What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).

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.

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

Measure	Hampden	Topsham
People
Population	5,161Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.1±6.3Lowest 8% below ME	44.7±4Highest about the ME average
	Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	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 ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Topsham and Hampden 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 ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	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±$22kHighest 50% above ME	$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME
	Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,900±$33kLowest 4% below ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$375Lowest about the ME average	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,863Lowest 27% above ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.2%±18Lowest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 9% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	16.1%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Topsham and Hampden 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	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	—	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.