Compare towns

Jerusalem vs Topsham vs Wayne

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 youngest population (median age 34).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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.

MeasureJerusalemTopshamWayne
People
Population
4,278Highest
999Lowest
1,033
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
34±4.4Lowest
13% below U.S.
50.1±5.9
29% above U.S.
62.6±3.6Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Jerusalem and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
40.1%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
21.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,780±$11k
7% above U.S.
$72,308±$60kLowest
10% below U.S.
$90,938±$17kHighest
13% above U.S.
Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$320,900±$59kHighest
4% below U.S.
$222,900±$56kLowest
33% below U.S.
$266,700±$150k
20% below U.S.
Jerusalem and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$870±$116Lowest
38% below U.S.
$908±$398
36% below U.S.
$1,031±$304Highest
27% below U.S.
Wayne and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,523Highest
45% above U.S.
$4,006
28% above U.S.
$3,967Lowest
27% 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%
38.9%±100Lowest
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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.3%±4.2Lowest
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.