What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Barnard	Topsham
People
Population	1,211Highest	999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT
	Topsham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Topsham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.8Highest VT: 7%	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT
	Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT	$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT
	Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,038Highest 20% above VT	$4,006Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 21% above VT	35 minHighest 49% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	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

VT 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.