Compare towns
Groton vs Fairlee 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 youngest population (median age 45.7).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Fairlee | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,066Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Fairlee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Groton and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Fairlee and Groton 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 |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.