Compare towns
Topsham vs South Berwick vs Naples vs Hampden
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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Naples | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
7,670 |
3,985Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
49.8±6.8Highest 11% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Naples and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Naples 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% ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden 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 22% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| Naples and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Naples 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Naples and Hampden 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Marshwood High School | Lake Region High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
13.0 |
11.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.