Compare towns
Oakland vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Oakland | Topsham |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 6,309Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
| Topsham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 8% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.