Compare towns
Groton vs Belvidere 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Belvidere | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967 |
422Lowest |
999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
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% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Topsham 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 |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Belvidere 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±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Groton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Belvidere 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 29% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school 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.