Compare towns
Middlesex vs Topsham vs Walden
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 expensive homes ($376k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Topsham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
999Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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 |
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.