Compare towns
Walden vs Nanticoke 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%).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Nanticoke | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,683Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4Lowest 7% 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% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Topsham 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% |
22.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Nanticoke 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% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% 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. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% 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±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$941±$314Highest 33% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Nanticoke 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. |
$3,171Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Nanticoke 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% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.