Compare towns
Topsham vs Brunswick 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 the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Brunswick | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
17,652Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Topsham and Hampden 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% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$70,722±$5kLowest 5% 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±$20k 22% above ME |
$363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick 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% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.