Compare towns
Hampden vs Topsham vs South Berwick
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%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Topsham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
9,706Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Mt Ararat High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.