Compare towns
Topsham vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Dedham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
1,656Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Dedham 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Dedham 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% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden 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±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Dedham 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 |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| Dedham and Topsham 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 |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Hampden 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% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | 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.