Compare towns
Eliot vs Barre 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
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Barre | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
8,412 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.