Compare towns
Topsham vs Westminster vs Gray
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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Gray has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Westminster | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
2,999Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.6Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.