Compare towns
Topsham vs Rupert vs Gray
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%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Gray has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Rupert | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
676Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Gray 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray 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±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Topsham 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. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert and Topsham 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.