Compare towns
Topsham vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Mapleton | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,766 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Topsham and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 22% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$357,100±$29k 20% above ME |
| Topsham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
| Topsham and New Gloucester 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| 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 |
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.