What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).

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	Sutton
People
Population	9,706Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Sutton 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 13% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Topsham and Sutton 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.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Sutton
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.