Compare towns
Topsham vs Eliot vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.7%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | Topsham | Eliot | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,271 |
7,146Lowest |
8,429Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.9 about the ME average |
50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,024±$18k 34% above ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,500±$24k 31% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$363,700±$20kLowest 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,491±$1k 31% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,371±$89Lowest 20% above ME |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,431 46% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$3,683Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±14.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.