Compare towns
Topsham vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wayne | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
1,033Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Topsham 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. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wayne 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Wayne 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange 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.

