Compare towns
Groton vs Barnard vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Groton | Barnard | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,211Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Barnard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.