What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Nelson
People
Population	9,706Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Topsham and Nelson 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson 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%	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nelson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Nelson 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.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
	Topsham and Nelson 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.	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Topsham and Nelson 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.	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Nelson 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 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.