Compare towns
Topsham vs Ripton vs Washington
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 kids (18% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Ripton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
508Lowest |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Washington 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Washington 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
| Washington 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Washington 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.