Compare towns
Topsham vs Reading 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 the most homeowners (90.3%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 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 | Reading | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Highest |
699Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Reading and Orange 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Orange 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.