Compare towns
Groton vs Windham vs Putney 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 homeowners (94.4%).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Windham | Putney | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
594Lowest |
2,622Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Windham and Putney 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Windham and Putney 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 |
— | $508±$482 59% below VT |
$908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
| Topsham and Putney 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Putney 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.