Compare towns
Walden vs Mapleton vs Fletcher vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Walden | Mapleton | Fletcher | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,884Highest |
1,196 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3 25% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% 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 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Fletcher and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Fletcher and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest 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 | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fletcher School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None 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.