What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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	Danforth
People
Population	9,706Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth 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%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Danforth 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%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth 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%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Danforth 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	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Highest 40% above ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Topsham and Danforth 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%	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	—
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.