Compare towns
Topsham vs Fairfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Topsham | Fairfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
1,938Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Topsham and Groton 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Groton 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Fairfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Fairfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Fairfield and Topsham 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Groton 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| 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.