Compare towns
Orange vs Exeter vs Benson 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Exeter | Benson | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
913 |
784Lowest |
999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Benson 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. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Benson 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.