Compare towns
Topsham vs Upton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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 | Upton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
8,189 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Blackstone Valley | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.