Compare towns
Topsham vs Chapman vs Walden
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 the most renters (9.7% rent).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Chapman | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
388Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Walden 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. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Highest 36% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.