Compare towns
Hampden vs Topsham vs West Bath
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 kids (25.8% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
9,706Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
| West Bath 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
| Hampden and West Bath 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 |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
| West Bath and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$3,516Lowest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.