Compare towns
Concord vs Reading vs Topsham vs Orange
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.
| Measure | Concord | Reading | Topsham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Highest |
699Lowest |
999 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% 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 |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest 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% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Orange 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±$60k 11% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$29 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% 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 |
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 |
28 min 19% 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% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.