Compare towns
Topsham vs Newfields vs Orford
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Topsham | Newfields | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
2,023 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Orford 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Topsham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.