Compare towns
Otisfield vs Topsham vs Harrison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otisfield has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k 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 | Otisfield | Topsham | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,951Lowest |
9,706Highest |
2,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.8±4.8Highest 27% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
56±3.6 25% above ME |
| Otisfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,271±$15k 13% above ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Topsham and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
| Topsham and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,300±$872 14% above ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Topsham and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,652Lowest 13% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$2,731 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.8%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Otisfield 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.