What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most people working from home (17.2%).

Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Hartford
People
Population	9,706Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Topsham and Hartford 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%	18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Hartford 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%	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
	Topsham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S.	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Topsham and Hartford 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.	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartford and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Hartford School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.