Compare towns
Walden vs Warner 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%).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Warner | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
2,959Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% 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% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Warner 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% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Walden 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% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner 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. |
$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Warner and Walden 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. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Warner and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Warner 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 | Kearsarge Regional 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.