Compare towns
Topsham vs Mapleton vs Eliot
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Mapleton | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,271Highest |
1,884Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.8±5.9Highest 13% above 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%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Topsham 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Highest 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% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,491±$1k 31% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±14.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 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 |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.