Compare towns
Groton vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Middlesex | Reading | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Topsham 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Reading 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.