Compare towns
Orange vs Hampton vs Topsham vs Walden
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Hampton | Topsham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,145Highest |
999 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Hampton 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Hampton 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hampton 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Walden and Topsham 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. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.