Compare towns
Walden vs Stark 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%).
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
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 | Stark | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
419Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Stark and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Walden 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% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark 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% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Stark 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. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% 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. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% 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. |
— | $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. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Stark 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Lowest 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 | Stark School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None 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.