Compare towns
Topsham vs Hampton Falls vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Hampton Falls 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Topsham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hampton Falls School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.