Compare towns
Walden vs Moriah 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%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Moriah | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
4,483Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Topsham 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% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% 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 | $238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 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 | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$908±$398Highest 36% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.