Compare towns
Orange vs Topsham vs Unity
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
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 | Topsham | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
999 |
1,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Orange 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Orange 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% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Topsham 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% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Topsham 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. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham 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. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Unity 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% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Unity School District |
| 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 |
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.