What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Weare	Topsham
People
Population	9,170Lowest	9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S.	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S.	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kHighest 19% above U.S.	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.
	Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Highest 101% above U.S.	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Weare and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.