Compare towns

Concord vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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.

MeasureConcordReadingTopsham
People
Population
1,145Highest
699Lowest
999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.8±6.6Lowest
16% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
50.1±5.9
16% above VT
Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.1%±4
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Concord 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%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Reading 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
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$72,308±$60kLowest
11% below VT
Reading 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
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$222,900±$56k
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,111±$29Highest
10% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$908±$398Lowest
26% below VT
Concord and Reading 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,006
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±82.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham and Reading 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%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
13% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
35 minHighest
49% above VT
Work from home
8.7%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Reading 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.