Compare towns

Plainfield vs Topsham vs Jasper

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Jasper has the most kids (33.6% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldTopshamJasper
People
Population
1,016
999Lowest
1,308Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
50.1±5.9Highest
29% above U.S.
37.3±7.4
4% below U.S.
Topsham and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
33.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
$72,308±$60k
10% below U.S.
$80,588±$7kHighest
about the U.S. average
Jasper and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$155,100±$17k
53% below U.S.
$222,900±$56kHighest
33% below U.S.
$123,600±$13kLowest
63% below U.S.
Topsham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$750±$207
47% below U.S.
$908±$398Highest
36% below U.S.
$658±$149Lowest
53% below U.S.
Topsham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,667
14% below U.S.
$4,006Highest
28% above U.S.
$2,250Lowest
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
91.9%±28.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
35.7%±54.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Topsham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
Topsham and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Waits River Union High District #36 —
High school 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.