Compare towns
Rupert vs Topsham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Rupert | Topsham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
9,706Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rupert and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Rupert 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 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.