What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).

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	Marlow
People
Population	9,706Highest	855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.	52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S.
	Marlow 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 U.S.: 22%	20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marlow and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marlow and Topsham 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%	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Marlow 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.	$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Marlow and Topsham 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.	$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
	Topsham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Topsham and Marlow 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.	$5,826Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham and Marlow 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Marlow School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	4 photos →

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.