Compare towns

Topsham vs Dummerston vs Orange

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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).

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.

MeasureTopshamDummerstonOrange
People
Population
999
2,090Highest
957Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±5.9
16% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
50.3±5.3Highest
17% above VT
Orange 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%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston 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%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
Orange and Topsham 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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Dummerston 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$908±$398Lowest
26% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,330±$153
8% above VT
Dummerston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,006
21% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
49% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
28 min
19% above VT
Work from home
14.2%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.5%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
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.