Compare towns
Jerusalem vs Topsham vs Buchanan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jerusalem has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Buchanan has the most expensive homes ($526k 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 | Jerusalem | Topsham | Buchanan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,278Highest |
999Lowest |
2,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.5±3.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buchanan and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$128,218±$23kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,900±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$525,500±$55kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$1,953±$836Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Buchanan and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523 45% above U.S. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±43.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jerusalem and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.