What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Orwell
People
Population	999Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT	47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT
	Topsham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orwell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orwell 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±$60kHighest 11% below VT	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT
	Topsham and Orwell 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	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT
	Orwell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,006Highest 21% below VT	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%	62.1%±35.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Topsham and Orwell 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%	10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 49% above VT	27 minLowest 15% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Topsham and Orwell 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	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.