Compare towns
Topsham vs South Eliot 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 Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 Eliot | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
4,203Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| South Eliot 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and South Eliot 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 |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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 |
$4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.