Compare towns
South Hampton vs Topsham vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).
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 | South Hampton | Topsham | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
9,706Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 192% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Kensington School District |
| 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 |
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.