Compare towns
Groton vs Middlesex 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 most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,943Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%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 |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Middlesex 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% 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% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Groton 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.