What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

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	Mansfield
People
Population	9,706Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Topsham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield 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%	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield 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.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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.	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham and Mansfield 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Mansfield
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.1Lowest
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.