Compare towns

Proctor vs Worcester vs Whitingham vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureProctorWorcesterWhitinghamTopsham
People
Population
1,586Highest
831Lowest
1,368
999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±8.9
10% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
46.4±7.1Lowest
8% above VT
50.1±5.9Highest
16% above VT
Topsham and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Whitingham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.5%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.9
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,060±$12kHighest
8% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$72,308±$60k
11% below VT
Proctor and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$206,000±$20kLowest
35% below VT
$271,100±$27kHighest
14% below VT
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$222,900±$56k
30% below VT
Worcester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,059±$200Highest
14% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$908±$398
26% below VT
Proctor and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$4,006
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.4%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%
VT: 10.1%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
5% below VT
29 min
22% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
35 min
49% above VT
Work from home
10%±5
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Worcester 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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town — None in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.