Compare towns
Topsham vs Plainfield vs Washington
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,016 |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Topsham 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% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Washington 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$996±$285Highest 30% below U.S. |
| Washington and Topsham 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Plainfield 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.