Compare towns
Topsham vs Pawlet 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Groton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Pawlet | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
1,480Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Topsham and Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Pawlet 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton 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±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Pawlet 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
30 minLowest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| 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.