Compare towns
Topsham vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 oldest population (median age 50.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 999 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482 59% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.