Compare towns
Cairo vs Topsham vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cairo has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Topsham has the most homeowners (90.3%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).
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.
| Measure | Cairo | Topsham | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,700 |
999Lowest |
8,219Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+53.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±4.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.6±2.5 20% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,643±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$77,601±$6k 4% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$202,100±$11kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,015±$305Highest 28% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$900±$127Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Cairo and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,246Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
$3,656Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Vernon 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 | #461 of 484 in NY | — | #368 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waits River Union High District #36 | SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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.