What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Camden
People
Population	9,706Highest	5,242Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME
	Camden 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%	18.4%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Camden 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%	38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Lowest ME: 36.2%	62.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Camden 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	$82,344±$15kLowest 10% above ME
	Topsham and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME	$1,269±$354Lowest 11% above ME
	Topsham and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$5,832Highest 92% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%	39.9%±15.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Camden 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%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	22 minLowest 11% below ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Camden 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	#11 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	RSU 28/MSAD 28
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.