Compare towns
Stratton vs Topsham vs Whiting vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Stratton | Topsham | Whiting | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
999Highest |
532Lowest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Topsham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.