What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

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	Scarborough
People
Population	9,706Lowest	23,215Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+17%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Lowest about the ME average	48.8±2.7Highest 9% above ME
	Scarborough 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 ME: 18.1%	16.6%±2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Scarborough 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 ME: 36.2%	57.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Topsham and Scarborough 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 22% above ME	$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME	$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME	$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME
	Scarborough and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME	$5,978Highest 97% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Scarborough 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 ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	19 minLowest 21% below ME
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Scarborough 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	#35 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Scarborough Public Schools
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Scarborough High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.