Compare towns
Topsham vs South Berwick vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | South Berwick | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
7,670Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| South Berwick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,683Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Marshwood High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.