Compare towns

Topsham vs Brookline vs Washington

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).

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.

MeasureTopshamBrooklineWashington
People
Population
999
531Lowest
1,056Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-0.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±5.9
16% above VT
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2
VT: 7%
Brookline and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,308±$60k
11% below VT
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the VT average
$66,103±$8kLowest
19% below VT
Brookline and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,900±$56k
30% below VT
$290,700±$37kHighest
8% below VT
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% below VT
Brookline and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$908±$398Lowest
26% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$996±$285
19% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,006
21% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$3,485Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
49% above VT
28 minLowest
21% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
14.2%±5.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Washington 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 — Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school 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.