Compare towns
Hampden vs Marblehead 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 ($301k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Marblehead | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Lowest |
20,413Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Marblehead 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. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 133 in ME | #47 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Marblehead | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Marblehead High | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.