What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paris has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Paris	Topsham
People
Population	5,317Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.2±5.6Highest 8% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
	Paris and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.6%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Paris and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Paris and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,137±$20kLowest about the ME average	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,355±$642 19% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,649Lowest 13% below ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Paris and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 9% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Paris and Topsham 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	#114 of 133 in ME	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 17/MSAD 17	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	None in town	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.