Compare towns
Eliot vs Brattleboro 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).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Brattleboro | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
12,122Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Brattleboro 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. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% 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. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Eliot 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.