What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).

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	Standish	Topsham
People
Population	10,662Highest	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME	44.7±4Highest about the ME average
	Topsham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME	$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME
	Standish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME
	Topsham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME
	Topsham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest about the ME average	$4,259Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Standish and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 3 yrs newer than ME	1980 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 20% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Topsham and Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.2Lowest
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.