Compare towns
Durham vs Middlebury 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 homeowners (95.4%).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
9,175 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above 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±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Middlebury and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,156±$113Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Middlebury 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. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.