Compare towns
Topsham vs Cairo vs Groton
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 (+2.2%).
Cairo has the most renters (24.8% rent).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Cairo | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
6,700Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.2±4.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$79,643±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$1,015±$305Highest 28% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 28% above U.S. |
$4,246Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Groton 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 | — | #461 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.