Compare towns
Unity vs Topsham vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Unity | Topsham | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
999Lowest |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Unity 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Waits River Union High District #36 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.