Compare towns
Topsham vs Hermon vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Hermon | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
6,727 |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above 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% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Hermon 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% |
37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Hermon 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 |
$96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Hermon 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 |
$333,600±$32kLowest 12% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| 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±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,406±$202 23% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Hermon 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 |
$2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Hermon 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and Dedham 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hermon Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.