What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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	Somersworth
People
Population	9,706Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Topsham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22%	19.9%±4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Topsham and Somersworth 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.	$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Topsham and Somersworth 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.	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.
	Somersworth 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.	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somersworth 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%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	72 photos →

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.