Compare towns
Orange vs Berlin 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
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Orange | Berlin | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
9,383Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange 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 | — | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Berlin School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— |
| 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.