What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Topsham	Amherst
People
Population	9,706Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.