Compare towns
Topsham vs Hanover vs Gray
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
11,685Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Gray 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Gray 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Hanover High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.7Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.