Compare towns
Danby vs Pawlet vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Danby | Pawlet | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,480Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Danby and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 5% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Danby and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Danby and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 10% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mettawee School District #84 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.