Compare towns
Nelson vs South Hampton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Topsham has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Nelson | South Hampton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
984 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nelson School District | South Hampton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.