Compare towns
Mapleton vs Topsham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Topsham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
9,706Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Topsham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.