What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k 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.

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

Measure	Topsham	Newport
People
Population	9,706Highest	4,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.	46.4±4.3Highest 19% above U.S.
	Newport 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%	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Newport 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%	25.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newport 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%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.	$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S.	$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S.
	Topsham and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,036Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newport and Topsham 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%	23%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
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.