What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).

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	Rockland	Topsham
People
Population	7,035Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±6Highest 10% above ME	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average
	Rockland and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rockland and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kLowest 17% below ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,059Lowest 34% above ME	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rockland and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 50% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.