Compare towns
Durham vs Bennington vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k 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 | Durham | Bennington | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
15,249Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Topsham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #58 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.