Compare towns
Groton vs Poultney 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 expensive homes ($243k median).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Poultney | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,033Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Poultney 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% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Groton and Topsham 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 |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Groton and Topsham 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 |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
| Topsham and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 29% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.