Compare towns
Topsham vs Upton vs Walden vs Orange
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 kids (18% under 18).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 70.4).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Walden | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 999 |
91Lowest |
1,037Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
70.4±0.4Highest 81% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±34.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Orange 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% |
80.2%±49.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
— | $88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Walden and Topsham 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. |
— | $238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% 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±$398 36% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange 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. |
$731Lowest 77% below U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% 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% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±12Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.