What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Bethel
People
Population	9,706Highest	2,617Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME
	Bethel and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bethel 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%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME
	Topsham and Bethel 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	$344,900±$37kLowest 16% above ME
	Topsham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME
	Topsham and Bethel 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	$2,835Lowest 7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Bethel 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%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	26 minHighest 5% above ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.3Lowest
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.