Compare towns
Walden vs Wayne vs Topsham vs Cabot
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Wayne | Topsham | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,033 |
999Lowest |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
40.3±6.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Cabot 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. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$77,031±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$268,500±$77kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Wayne 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$1,243±$354Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Wayne 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
$4,639Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 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.