Compare towns
Mapleton vs Topsham vs Hampden vs Chapman
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Chapman has the most homeowners (94.5%).
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 | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
9,706Highest |
7,896 |
388Lowest |
| 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±4 about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Chapman and Topsham 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%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Hampden 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%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
| Hampden and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| 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 |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 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 |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | 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.