Compare towns

Groton vs Proctor 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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureGrotonProctorTopsham
People
Population
967Lowest
1,794Highest
999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
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%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Proctor 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%
22.4%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Topsham and Proctor 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%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Groton and Proctor 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
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$72,308±$60kLowest
11% below VT
Groton and Proctor 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
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% 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
$1,029±$202Highest
17% below VT
$908±$398
26% below VT
Proctor 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
$4,032Highest
20% below VT
$4,006
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%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 min
29% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
35 minHighest
49% above VT
Work from home
12.3%±7
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
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 — Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town — Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
—
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.