Compare towns
Hampden vs Epping 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 kids (25.8% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Topsham has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Epping | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
7,430Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Epping School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Epping High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.