Compare towns
Topsham vs Appleton vs Hampden
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 (+8.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
1,360Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.