Compare towns
Concord vs Benson vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Concord | Benson | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145Highest |
784Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.6Lowest 16% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Benson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Concord and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Benson and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Benson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$29 10% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Benson and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±82.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.