What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).

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	Conway
People
Population	9,706Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Conway 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±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S.	$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Topsham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Topsham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Conway School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.7Lowest
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.