Compare towns
Topsham vs Nelson vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Nelson | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
648Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Nelson 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nelson School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.