Compare towns
Hampden vs Mapleton vs Woolwich vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Mapleton | Woolwich | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
1,884Lowest |
3,158 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
| Hampden and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$254,500±$59k 14% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $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 | $3,694 22% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,433 20% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.