Compare towns
Topsham vs Dover vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Weare has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Dover | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
33,364Highest |
9,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 13% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dover School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Dover Senior High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.